Optimizing Prostate Cancer Care: Clinical Utility of the Prostate Health Index.

Abstract

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancies among men worldwide. Current diagnostic methods, such as digital rectal examination (DRE) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), often lack specificity and lead to overdiagnosis. The Prostate Health Index (PHI), a composite of total PSA, free PSA, and [-2]proPSA, has emerged as a promising biomarker for improving PCa detection and risk stratification.

Methods: This narrative review synthesizes evidence from clinical trials and meta-analyses evaluating the diagnostic and prognostic performance of PHI. Studies on its use in initial and repeat biopsy settings, ethnic variation, integration with multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), and its role in predicting clinically significant PCa were analyzed to provide a comprehensive overview.

Results: PHI consistently demonstrates superior accuracy compared to PSA alone, particularly in the PSA "gray zone" (2-10 ng/mL), reducing unnecessary biopsies while enhancing detection of clinically significant PCa. PHI also shows added value when used in conjunction with mpMRI and risk stratification tools. Ethnic-specific variations suggest the need for population-adjusted reference ranges. Moreover, PHI has shown clinical relevance in predicting Gleason score upgrades and reclassification during active surveillance.

Conclusions: PHI is a clinically valuable, noninvasive tool that improves diagnostic precision for PCa, aids in therapeutic decision-making, and may reduce overtreatment. Incorporating PHI into routine clinical practice could optimize PCa management, though further studies are needed to establish standardized thresholds and integrate it into multiparametric diagnostic pathways.