[Diagnostic value of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) in comparison to prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) in prostatic...

The diagnostic value of the tumour markers: PSA, PAP and AcP was studied before treatment in 379 men (47 with prostatic cancer--PC, 306 with benign hyperplasia--PBH, and 26 healthy subjects--control group CG). PSA was determined by the enzymoimmune method, and the phosphatases were evaluated by the spectrophotometric method. Raised level of PSA was found in PBH--the highest value--23.3 ng/ml. After accepting the cutting off values (1.9 ng/ml and 23.3 ng/ml), even in 93% of patients with PC, the level of PSA exceeded the second of those values. A significant growing tendency was found of PSA together with the degree of clinical progression of PC (in stages C and D--in 100% of patients). PSA, as compared with the phosphatases, is a much more sensitive biochemical marker, exceeding them many times in sensitivity.