Preliminary evaluation of 5 alpha-reductase type 2 in urine as a potential marker for prostate disease

The objective of this study was to find a biomarker, easily detectable and measurable, that could be useful to the physician for the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer. An immunoaffinity-purified polyclonal antibody to the 5 alpha-reductase type 2 isozyme was prepared following standard procedures in New Zealand White rabbits. One hundred and seven urine samples were examined for the presence of this isozyme by Western blot, dot blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay assays. In a control group of 91 subjects (46 females and 45 males) with no history of prostate disease, only 1 female tested positive. In a test group of 16 males, 4 males with adenocarcinoma of the prostate under treatment with lupron/flutamide tested negative. Four males with untreated adenocarcinoma of the prostate tested positive. Two males with transitional cell carcinoma invading the prostatic ducts and two males with basal cell hyperplasia of the prostate with intraductal dysplasia tested positive. These results support the need for an extended study to explore the use of the Western blot or the simple dot blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the detection of 5 alpha-reductase type 2 in urine as a potential marker for prostate disease.