[What is the use of the radioimmunoassay of prostatic acid phosphatase?]

Radioimmunoassay (RIA) of prostatic acid phosphatases (PAP) using the Gammadab (R) PAP pack supplied by Clinical Assays in an effective method for determining extension of prostatic cancer. In patients with lymph node or metastatic invasion serum assay values are almost always elevated (sensitivity = 94%), especially with well differentiated cancer. Elevated levels of this variable are practically pathognomonic of external extension (specificity = 94%). This is of importance in therapy since the degree of invasion determines the choice between palliative and curative treatment. Strategy leading to this therapeutic choice can be greatly simplified and thus modified by RIA of PAP.