Screening for Prostate Cancer in Older Patients (PLCO Screening Trial) (NCT00002540) | Clinical Trial Compass
Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable
Screening for Prostate Cancer in Older Patients (PLCO Screening Trial)
United States76,685 participantsStarted 1993-11-16
Plain-language summary
This clinical trial studies whether screening methods used to diagnose cancer of the prostate, lung, colon, rectum, or ovaries can reduce deaths from these cancers. Screening tests may help doctors find cancer cells early and plan better treatment for prostate cancer.
Who can participate
Age range
55 Years – 74 Years
Sex
MALE
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Men who at the time of randomization are less than 55 or greater than or equal to 75 years of age
* Individuals undergoing treatment for cancer at this time, excluding basal-cell and squamous-cell skin cancer
* Individuals with known prior cancer of the colon, rectum, lung, prostate
* This includes primary or metastatic PLCO cancers
* Individuals with previous surgical removal of the entire colon, one lung, or the entire prostate
* Individuals who are participating in another cancer screening or cancer primary prevention trial
* Males who have taken Proscar/Propecia/finasteride in the past 6 months
* NOTE: Individuals who are already enrolled in the trial when their physician prescribes finasteride are not prevented from taking this medication. As a result, these participants will continue to be screened and followed just as those participants who are not on finasteride.
* NOTE: Men who are taking Tamoxifen are not excluded from any part of the PLCO Screening Trial.
* Individuals who are unwilling or unable to sign the informed consent form
* Males who have had more than one PSA blood test in the past three years
* Individuals who have had a colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, or barium enema in the past three years
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Prostate Cancer Deaths
Timeframe: Events through 13 years of follow-up or through December 31, 2009; median follow-up 12.0 years.
2
Prostate Cancer Death Rates
Timeframe: Events through 13 years of follow-up or through December 31, 2009; median follow-up 12.0 years.