In the latest edition of European Urology Open Sciences, the Prostate Cancer Center at Capio St. Göran’s Hospital is highlighted for its well-invested and structured model for prostate cancer diagnostics. This model, based on Stockholm3 combined with MRI and targeted biopsies has been shown to significantly improve the diagnostic outcome and health economics.
The Prostate Cancer Center was established in 2017 with the vision of offering cost-effective prostate cancer diagnostics through innovative diagnostic methods and efficient processes. By using Stockholm3 as a reflex test for men with PSA values above 1.5 ng/ml, Capio St. Göran’s Hospital has streamlined the ability to detect prostate cancer early and minimized unnecessary MRIs and biopsies.
The recently published article in European Urology Open Sciences highlights the results of the Capio St. Göran model based on 12,406 tested men. It demonstrates how the use of Stockholm3 significantly improves diagnostic precision, reduces overdiagnosis, enables diagnosis at low PSA levels, streamlines resource utilization, and thus improves health economics.
Link to the article: The Capio Prostate Cancer Center Model for Prostate Cancer Diagnostics—Real-world Evidence from 2018 to 2022 – ScienceDirect
Highlights from the article include:
Improved diagnostic precision: A full 57% of men with suspected findings on MRI were accurately diagnosed with clinically significant prostate cancer. This higher precision allows for quicker interventions and improved treatment.
Reduced overdiagnosis: The Capio St. Göran model shows a significant reduction in overdiagnosis, with only 12% of patients diagnosed with low-grade prostate cancer.
Efficient resource utilization: By using the Capio St. Göran model with Stockholm3, 43% of all MRIs could be avoided compared to traditional PSA selection.
Diagnosis at low PSA levels: Cancer was also detected for individuals with low PSA levels (under 3 ng/ml). A full 56% of men with positive Stockholm3 results and PSA levels below 3 ng/ml were identified with clinically significant prostate cancer, highlighting the model's effectiveness for early detection.
Earlier detection and fewer individuals with metastatic cancer: The Capio St. Göran model with Stockholm3 leads to a 40% increase in the proportion of early detection of clinically significant prostate cancer and simultaneously a 22% decrease in cases of metastatic prostate cancer compared to other Swedish prostate cancer clinics. This significantly improves opportunities for curative treatment and reduces healthcare costs.
Improved health economics: From a Swedish perspective, implementing this model leads to improved health economics with a 25% cost reduction compared to current clinical practice and Stockholm3 plays a crucial role in delivering cost-effective care.
"The Capio St. Göran model, where the Stockholm3 test is an important part, shows that we can significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer. It is particularly valuable to see how we can detect cancer at an earlier stage when the prospects for successful treatment are significantly better," says Professor Henrik Grönberg, Head of the Prostate Cancer Center at Capio S:t Görans Hospital and initiator of the innovative diagnostic model.