Prostate-specific antigen in prostatic cancer

In an attempt to establish the value of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in prostatic cancer, serum PSA measurements were performed in 600 patients, including 75 previously untreated prostatic cancer patients. The mean PSA levels in the benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) and cancer groups were highly significantly different, but less difference was found between BPH and localized prostatic cancer. A PSA level above 50 ng/ml was never recorded for BPH, but lower levels can be due to either prostatic cancer or to BPH. Our data suggest that PSA is not a specific marker of prostatic cancer but increased serum PSA levels must draw the physician's attention to the possible presence of prostatic cancer.