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Updated: Oct 21, 2026
Microarray-based Identification of Individual HERV Loci Expression: Application to Biomarker Discovery in Prostate Cancer
Published on: November 2, 2013
Characterization of monoclonal antibodies for prostate-specific antigen and development of highly sensitive free
M H Black1, C L Grass, J Leinonen
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X5.
Background:
The recent elucidation of the importance of serological free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the diagnosis of prostate cancer has created a demand for immunoassays specific for free PSA.
Methods:
We developed and characterized 11 monoclonal antibodies with high affinities for PSA (Ka values from 1.1 x 10(8) to 1.8 x 10(10)L/mol), only 3 of which cross-react with human glandular kallikrein (hK2). Using these antibodies and PSA antibodies developed by others, in conjunction with time-resolved fluorometry, we developed ultrasensitive sandwich immunoassays specific for the free form of PSA.
Results:
The analytical detection limit of these immunoassays is 0.001 microg/L. To our knowledge, this is the most sensitive free PSA assay reported to date. The free PSA immunoassays exhibit <1% cross-reactivity with PSA-alpha1-antichymotrypsin, show no cross-reactivity with hK2, and correlate well with established free PSA kits. The 11 antibodies developed by our group, in conjunction with 4 commercially available antibodies, were used to generate a putative epitope map of the PSA molecule.
Conclusion:
The highly sensitive free PSA immunoassays may be used for measuring PSA subfractions in female serum, an application currently impossible with other reported free PSA immunoassays.
