This lecture is part of the Interdisciplinary Medical & Health Seminars

Guest speaker: Dr. Guinevere S.M. Lageveen-Kammeijer

As an early screening method for prostate cancer (PCa) the concentration of the glycoprotein prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is measured in serum. Unfortunately, this test exhibits low sensitivity, specificity and a poor predictive value. Literature suggests that specific alterations in the glycosylation profile of PSA may provide a solution for a more specific, yet, non-invasive PCa diagnosis.

To gain a better understanding of the glycomic alterations on PSA, this study is focused on the in-depth analysis of the PSA N-glycome derived from the circulation in a highly sensitive manner. Further endeavors are focused on the diagnostic and prognostic potential of altered PSA glycosylation derived from plasma for the early diagnosis of PCa as well as for the differentiation between aggressive and indolent PCa.