[Prostatic cancer: immunochemical control over chemotherapy]

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) was measured in blood-serum of patients with prostatic cancer (PC) from two groups. Group 1 received estrogens, alkylating cytostatic, antracycline antibiotic and antimetabolite; group 2--LH releasing hormone (RHLH) analog. The immunochemical test was made weekly for 52 weeks. Group 2 patients had a high PSA level reaching maximum on week 6 (59.32 +/- 5.37 microg/l). After that, the PSA level decreased. The initial level was reached on week 17. On week 52 a mean PSA concentration made up 16.78 +/- 1.88 micrograms/l. As to group 1, no trend to serum PSA elevation was seen for two weeks, than it slowly rose and on week 8 it converted to plateau (mean level 51.5 micrograms/l). Lowering occurred slowly beginning on week 19. The initial level was reached only on the treatment week 30-31 being to the end of the treatment 22.06 +/- 1.53 micrograms/l. Assay for other cancer markers detected elevation of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in 21.8% of group 1 patients after 21-22 weeks of the treatment. Serum level of PSA is recommended for control over chemotherapy of prostatic cancer. The role of drugs in induction of AFP resynthesis is not discussed.