Effects of replacing PSA with Stockholm3 for diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer in a healthcare system – the Stavanger experience

OBJECTIVE: To describe early experience of replacing PSA with Stockholm3 for detection of prostate cancer in primary care. DESIGN AND METHODS: Longitudinal observations, comparing outcome measures before and after the implementation of Stockholm3. SETTING: Stavanger region in Norway with about 370,000 inhabitants, 304 general practitioners (GPs) in 97 primary care clinics, and one hospital. INTERVENTION: GPs were instructed to use Stockholm3 instead of PSA as standard procedure for diagnosis of prostate cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of GP clinics that had ordered a Stockholm3 test. Number of men referred to needle biopsy. Distribution of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPC) (Gleason Score ≥7) and clinically non-significant prostate cancer (cnsPC) (Gleason Score 6), in needle biopsies. Estimation of direct healthcare costs. RESULTS: Stockholm3 was rapidly implemented as 91% (88/97) of the clinics started to use the test within 14 weeks. After including 4784 tested men, the percentage who would have been referred for prostate needle biopsy was 29.0% (1387/4784) if based on PSA level ≥3ng/ml, and 20.8% (995/4784) if based on Stockholm3 Risk Score (p < 0.000001). The proportion of positive biopsies with csPC increased from 42% (98/233) before to 65% (185/285) after the implementation. Correspondingly, the proportion of cnsPC decreased from 58% (135/233) before to 35% (100/285) after the implementation (p < 0.0017). Direct healthcare costs were estimated to be reduced by 23–28% per tested man. CONCLUSION: Replacing PSA with Stockholm3 for early detection of prostate cancer in primary care is feasible. Implementation of Stockholm3 resulted in reduced number of referrals for needle-biopsy and a higher proportion of clinically significant prostate cancer findings in performed biopsies. Direct healthcare costs decreased. KEY POINTS: A change from PSA to Stockholm3 for the diagnosis of prostate cancer in primary care in the Stavanger region in Norway is described and assessed. •Implementation of a new blood-based test for prostate cancer detection in primary care was feasible. A majority of GP clinics started to use the test within three months. •Implementation of the Stockholm3 test was followed by: –a 28% reduction in number of men referred for urological prostate cancer work-up; –an increase in the proportion of clinically significant cancer in performed prostate biopsies from 42 to 65%; –an estimated reduction in direct health care costs between 23 and 28%.