Frequently Asked Questions

PSA (prostate-specific antigen) is a protein produced by the prostate and measured in the blood. Elevated levels can indicate prostate health issues, and PSA testing is the most common initial screening tool used for prostate cancer detection. However, an elevated PSA level is often caused by benign factors like prostate enlargement, inflammation, or infection.

Although an elevated PSA test result can indicate that further evaluation is needed, it cannot reliably distinguish between aggressive cancer, slow-growing cancer, or non-cancerous conditions on its own.

Yes. An elevated PSA does not necessarily mean prostate cancer is present. PSA levels can rise for a variety of non-cancerous reasons, including benign prostate enlargement (BPH), inflammation, infection, or recent activity that may affect the prostate (such as biking).

Because PSA is not cancer-specific, additional evaluation is often needed to better understand what an elevated result may indicate before deciding on next steps.

Aggressive prostate cancer refers to forms of the disease that are more likely to grow quickly and spread beyond the prostate if left untreated. These types of prostate cancers differ from slow-growing, or indolent, cancers that may never cause symptoms or require treatment.

Identifying whether aggressive prostate cancer is likely is an important part of prostate cancer detection, as it helps focus attention on cancers that may benefit from timely intervention while avoiding unnecessary procedures for lower-risk disease.

While a prostate biopsy is generally safe, like any invasive medical procedure, it can have side effects. These may include temporary bleeding in the urine or semen, discomfort, urinary symptoms, or infection. Most side effects are mild and resolve on their own, but more serious complications can occur in rare cases.

Understanding the potential risks helps patients and healthcare providers weigh whether the benefits of a biopsy are likely to outweigh the downsides in an individual situation.

No. An elevated PSA does not automatically mean a prostate biopsy is necessary. PSA levels can rise for reasons other than cancer, including benign prostate enlargement (also known as BPH), inflammation, or infection.

Additional evaluation can help clarify whether a biopsy is likely to provide useful information, and tools that offer more context about the likelihood of aggressive disease, like the 4Kscore^® Test, can support a more informed discussion between patients and healthcare providers about next steps.

The 4Kscore Test is an FDA-approved blood test used to assess the likelihood of finding aggressive prostate cancer if a biopsy were performed. It is intended for men age 45 or older who have an age-specific elevated PSA result or an abnormal digital rectal exam (DRE), regardless of whether PSA is elevated. 4Kscore combines four prostate-related biomarkers with patient information, such as age and clinical history, into a single test.

The result is a personalized probability estimate that supports informed discussions between patients and healthcare providers about whether a prostate biopsy may be appropriate.

A PSA test measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood, which can be elevated for many reasons beyond cancer. The 4Kscore Test goes further by combining multiple biomarkers and clinical factors to estimate the likelihood of aggressive prostate cancer.

While PSA is a screening tool, the 4Kscore Test provides additional precision to help guide next steps, including whether a biopsy should be considered.

A 4Kscore result estimates the probability that aggressive prostate cancer would be found if a prostate biopsy were performed. Lower 4Kscore test results are associated with a lower likelihood of aggressive disease, while higher results suggest a higher likelihood. For example, a 4Kscore result below 5.0 has been associated with a decreased likelihood of finding aggressive prostate cancer on biopsy.

The test does not diagnose prostate cancer but provides valuable additional information to support informed discussions between patients and providers about whether a biopsy may be appropriate.

Your 4Kscore test result should be reviewed and discussed with your healthcare provider to decide the next steps in your care.

No. The 4Kscore Test does not diagnose prostate cancer. A prostate biopsy is the only way to confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer.

The 4Kscore Test provides meaningful information about the likelihood that aggressive prostate cancer would be found if a biopsy were performed.

The added scientific context provided by 4Kscore can help support informed discussions between patients and healthcare providers about whether a biopsy may be appropriate.

Yes, the 4Kscore Test is a blood test. It requires a simple blood draw, and no special preparation, such as fasting, is needed. The blood sample is analyzed along with relevant clinical information to generate a personalized probability score that can be used to support discussions between patients and healthcare providers about prostate cancer detection and whether a prostate biopsy may make sense.

For some men, it can. The 4Kscore Test provides vital information about the likelihood that aggressive prostate cancer would be found if a biopsy were performed. When results suggest a lower likelihood of aggressive disease, patients and healthcare providers may decide that a biopsy is unlikely to be beneficial.

4Kscore offers valuable information that supports more thoughtful, individualized discussions about whether to proceed with a biopsy or consider continued monitoring.

The 4Kscore Test may be considered for men age 45 and older who have received an age-specific elevated PSA result or an abnormal digital rectal exam (DRE) and are deciding whether to proceed with a prostate biopsy.

4Kscore is used by men who have not had a biopsy or have had a previous negative biopsy. Your healthcare provider can help you determine whether the test is appropriate based on your individual clinical findings and preferences.

The 4Kscore Test provides a probability score that patients and their healthcare providers can review together when discussing prostate cancer detection. By offering more precision than PSA alone, 4Kscore helps guide conversations about whether a prostate biopsy is likely to be helpful.

This shared decision-making approach supports individualized care by aligning clinical information with a patient’s values, preferences, and individual approach to decision-making.