IsoPSA: The Test That Could Save Millions from Unnecessary Biopsies

In this episode, we explore how we’re reshaping the way we approach prostate cancer screening. We begin with Dr. Arnon Chait’s fascinating personal journey—from working as a physicist and rocket scientist at NASA to co-founding Cleveland Diagnostics. His transition from space science to biotechnology is rooted in a deeper mission: making medical diagnostics more effective, accessible, and less invasive.

Dr. Chait explains how he and his co-founder Boris Zaslavsky created Cleveland Diagnostics through a unique scientific and clinical collaboration. Their work led to the development of IsoPSA, a next-generation liquid biopsy test that significantly improves the accuracy of prostate cancer screening compared to the traditional PSA test. While PSA testing has been vital since the 1980s, it lacks specificity, often leading to unnecessary and painful biopsies. IsoPSA changes that by identifying whether the PSA comes from normal or cancerous cells, giving physicians better guidance for decision-making.

We reflect on the flaws in current screening guidelines, particularly the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force’s recommendations that limit PSA screening based on age, rather than overall health or family history. Both of us agree that this age cap contributes to preventable cases of advanced prostate cancer. The ability to stratify risk early—and cost-effectively—is essential for improving outcomes and reducing the financial and emotional burdens of over-treatment.

A major focus of our conversation is democratizing access to early detection. We discuss integrating IsoPSA into mobile men’s health clinics, allowing men in underserved areas to receive accurate results in real time from a single blood draw. IsoPSA’s affordability and compatibility with existing lab equipment make it ideal for broad implementation.

We also touch on the importance of public engagement and awareness campaigns like Cleveland Diagnostics' “PSA on PSA,” which aims to spread knowledge and encourage early testing. Yet, we recognize that stigma around men’s health persists. We call for more public figures and survivors to share their stories, helping to normalize conversations about prostate and testicular cancer.

We conclude with reflections on legacy, innovation, and the evolving role of AI in diagnostics. While AI has promise, we emphasize the importance of keeping diagnostics simple, interpretable, and actionable for real-world clinical settings.