[Prostatic specific antigen in the serum in prostatic cancer]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Oncology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Prostatic specific antigen (PSA) is a biomarker used in prostate cancer detection and management.
• Understanding PSA levels across different prostate cancer stages and conditions is crucial for accurate diagnosis and treatment monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic utility of prostatic specific antigen (PSA) levels in various stages of prostate cancer.
• To assess the correlation of PSA with other conditions and its response to endocrine treatment.

Main Methods:

• PSA levels were measured using a Wako test kit.
• Abnormal PSA values were analyzed across different prostate cancer stages (A1, C, D1, D2).
• False positive rates were determined for conditions like prostatic hypertrophy, prostatitis, and urinary stones.

Main Results:

• Abnormal PSA incidence increased with prostate cancer stage, reaching 100% in stage D2.
• False positive rates were 52% for prostatic hypertrophy and 18% for prostatitis.
• Elevated PSA decreased in 31% of cases after 4 weeks of endocrine treatment, with better normalization in higher-grade cancers.
• PSA levels did not correlate with prostatic acid phosphatase (RIA).
• Reactivated cancer patients showed a significantly higher PSA positive rate than those under good treatment control.

Conclusions:

• PSA is a valuable marker for prostate cancer, with sensitivity increasing with disease stage.
• PSA levels can be influenced by non-cancerous conditions, necessitating careful interpretation.
• Endocrine therapy can impact PSA levels, offering insights into treatment response and disease activity.