[Immunohistochemical detection of prostate carcinoma]

Both prostate specific acid phosphatase (PAP) and prostate specific anti-body (PSA) were used as the specific markers for detecting prostate cancer and its metastasis, and this was considered as the most efficient technique for detecting metastatic lesions associated with an occult carcinoma in the prostate. Altogether 44 cases were studied, including 23 cases of prostatic carcinoma, 3 cases of metastatic tumors and 18 cases of benign hypertrophy of prostate (including 4 cases with local carcinoma). Analysis of 27 cases revealed that PSA seemed more sensitive than PAP, as 17 cases of prostatic carcinoma showed positive reaction with PSA, while among them, only 3 showed negative reaction with PAP. Most of the well differentiated glandular type prostatic carcinoma showed strong positive reaction. However, the poorly differentiated solid carcinoma only showed mild positive reaction. All of the controls as well as bladder and kidney cancers showed negative reaction with either PAP or PSA.