[Cancer of the prostate: prostatic acid phosphatases. Biochemical properties and assay]

The first data on acidic phosphatase were published in the beginning of the 20th century. The applications to prostatic carcinoma were performed by Gutman in 1936. The enzyme is a glycoprotein which action mechanism is similar to a histidine-phosphatase. Acidic phosphatase has been found in numerous tissues and blood-stream cells. Its structure is dimeric and glycans average 10% of the M.W. The enzyme has been assayed in serum, using numerous substrates in the presence of specific inhibitors. The best results were obtained with thymolphthalein phosphate. Improvements were done by assays in bone marrow and by the introduction of immunological technics which lead to a better appreciation of tumoral invasion.