Circulating free PSA in breast cancer patients: is it a reliable biomarker?

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a serine protease primarily expressed in the prostate, has also been detected in hormonally regulated female tissues, including the breast. Some studies suggest a correlation between increased levels of circulating free PSA (fPSA) and breast cancer, but its role remains debated. This study aimed to evaluate this association while minimizing hormonal confounding factors.

A total of 82 breast cancer patients (aged 35-86 years) and 31 healthy premenopausal women (aged 18-58 years) were enrolled. Patients had a primary breast cancer diagnosis with no other malignancies and had not undergone preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Participants with hormonal conditions affecting PSA expression were excluded. fPSA levels were measured using an improved VIDAS® fPSA immunoassay with enhanced analytical sensitivity.

Despite the increased sensitivity of the modified assay, fPSA was undetectable in all plasma samples. This may be due to the exclusion of participants with hormonal imbalances who might exhibit higher PSA expression.

The absence of androgen receptor (AR)-positive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients in this cohort further supports the role of androgens in PSA regulation. These findings suggest that fPSA may not be a reliable circulating biomarker for breast cancer. However, a key limitation is the lack of fPSA assessment within breast cancer tissue. Future studies should investigate its expression in tumors, particularly in AR-positive TNBC, and evaluate circulating fPSA and testosterone levels as potential biomarkers of tumor androgenic activity.