Prostate cancer assays and related methods

The present invention includes a method for stimulating increased PSA production by prostate cancer cells, comprising the steps of reducing the amount of iron available to the prostate cancer cells; and causing increased PSA production. In another aspects of the present invention, there are provided prostate cancer diagnostic kits comprising a first container containing an iron chelator; and second container containing a free-PSA-specific antibody, wherein the free-PSA-specific antibody is detectable. Also provided as part of the present invention are methods for diagnosing prostate cancer in a human, comprising reducing the amount of available iron in the human, and subsequently testing PSA levels.