Opening LUGPA 2026: A Real-World Case Study in Smarter Prostate Cancer Detection

Last updated: 07 May 2026

For urologists working in large, high-volume practices, the challenge of prostate cancer detection is as much about workflow and consistency as it is about clinical accuracy. Standard Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) testing remains a cornerstone of early screening, but its limitations are well documented: a raised PSA level most often reflects causes other than prostate cancer, but it can still trigger a cascade of unnecessary imaging, biopsies, and patient anxiety, even when the underlying risk of clinically significant cancer is low. The result is diagnostic inconsistency, strained resources, and a system that sometimes feels reactive rather than strategic.

Across the United States, urology groups are increasingly addressing that gap by adding EpiSwitch® PSE prostate cancer detection test—a routine but highly accurate blood test based on 3D genomics—to their pre-biopsy pathway alongside PSA. PSE has now been ordered from every U.S. state, and a growing number of practices have made it part of their essential workflow. Among them is Kearney Urology Center, where the test is widely offered to patients during their urology consult.

Dr. Garrett Pohlman delivers Podium Presentation #1 at the Global Prostate Cancer Congress, highlighting real-world integration of EpiSwitch® PSE in a large urology practice

Earlier this year, Dr. Garrett D. Pohlman, M.D., a urologist at Kearney Urology Center and principal investigator of a real-world prostate cancer screening study, was selected to deliver the opening podium presentation of the Advanced Diagnostics session at the LUGPA 2026 Global Prostate Cancer Congress. The opening slot signals work that directly addresses the priorities of large, integrated urology practices.

Dr. Pohlman's findings, drawn from nearly two years of clinical data following 187 men presenting with elevated PSA or abnormal digital rectal exam findings, document what large urology groups can expect when EpiSwitch PSE is integrated alongside PSA in routine workflows. At Kearney, the binary PSE result, either "low likelihood" or "high likelihood" for prostate cancer, informs whether patients proceed toward observation or advanced imaging and biopsy.

What Dr. Pohlman and his colleagues found was striking. Up to 79 percent of prostate biopsies could be avoided without sacrificing safety. The PSE result demonstrated strong concordance with biopsy-confirmed diagnoses. For a practice managing hundreds of elevated PSA cases each year, these numbers translate into meaningful reductions in unnecessary procedures and, just as importantly, a more consistent approach to risk stratification across multiple providers.

Of particular interest for LUGPA practices, the operational benefits extended beyond the exam room. Fewer unnecessary MRI and biopsy appointments freed capacity for higher-risk patients and improved scheduling flexibility for the entire care team: urologists, nurse navigators, radiologists, and administrative staff alike. Economic modeling from the study suggested average cost savings of approximately $1,200 per patient, a figure that scales dramatically for larger practices.

Perhaps most telling was the patient response. When offered the option of PSE testing, 100 percent of eligible patients chose to proceed, reflecting a clear preference for additional molecular guidance before making decisions about biopsy. The binary output of the test also simplified shared decision-making conversations, giving clinicians a concrete data point to discuss rather than navigating the ambiguity of PSA gray zones.

That Dr. Pohlman's work was chosen to open the Advanced Diagnostics session reflects a broader shift in thinking among urology leaders. The packed room, strong engagement from urology key opinion leaders, and virtual attendance underscored the interest in improving detection — and doing so in a way that fits the realities of large, integrated practices: standardizing care, reducing unnecessary invasive interventions, improving capacity utilization, and delivering measurable value at scale.

For practices considering how to evolve their prostate cancer detection pathways, Kearney Urology Center's experience offers a practical, evidence-based blueprint built on a test that is already in wide clinical use.

Watch the Full Presentation

Watch Dr. Pohlman walk through the data, clinical rationale, and lessons learned from integrating 3D genomic testing into prostate cancer detection pathways:

Dr. Garrett Pohlman, MD: "Advancing Prostate Cancer Detection and Care Pathways with Integrated 3D Genomic and PSA Testing" | LUGPA Global Prostate Cancer Congress, January 2026

Conference: LUGPA Global Prostate Cancer Congress 2026

Session: Advanced Diagnostics

Presented: January 11, 2026