Tissue polypeptide antigen in bronchogenic carcinoma

Serum concentrations of tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) were examined by an immunoradiometric technique in 114 patients with bronchogenic carcinoma and in 55 patients with noncancerous lung diseases. The sensitivity of TPA examination in bronchogenic carcinoma was 67.5% and was increased in advanced stages of the disease. No statistically significant differences were observed between histologic types of bronchogenic carcinoma. In nonmalignant lung diseases, elevated levels of TPA were observed in 21.8% of patients. TPA is of little value in the diagnosis of bronchogenic carcinoma; however, it may be useful as an auxiliary criterion for staging.