title: Comparison of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measured by four combinations of free PSA and total PSA assays.
abstract: We compared prostate-specific antigen (PSA) assay systems [i.e., free PSA (f-PSA) and the corresponding total PSA (t-PSA) assay] from four different manufacturers as well as the f-PSA/t-PSA ratios with regard to their ability to discriminate between benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCA). ROC analysis showed similar areas under the curves (AUCs) with different assay systems. For the entire patient population the AUCs of the f-PSA/t-PSA ratio were not or slightly increased compared with the sole measurement of t-PSA (t-PSA, 0.792-0.820; f-PSA/t-PSA ratio, 0.685-0.859). In contrast, for only those patients who showed t-PSA concentrations within the diagnostic gray area of 4-25 micrograms/L t-PSA, the AUCs were greater for the f-PSA/ t-PSA ratio than for measurement of t-PSA alone (t-PSA, 0.608-0.647; f-PSA/t-PSA ratio, 0.690-0.806). These results were confirmed by the predictive values of the negative results (NPVs) of the t-PSA assays and the f-PSA/t-PSA ratios (assay thresholds corresponding to a 95% detection limit). Compared with the sole t-PSA measurement there was no mentionable increase in the NPVs due to the f-PSA/t-PSA ratio for the entire patient population, but an increase up to 49% when limited to t-PSA concentrations within 4-25 micrograms/L. We therefore conclude that the f-PSA/t-PSA ratio may be helpful for differential diagnosis of BPH and PCA within the diagnostic gray area of 4-25 micrograms/L t-PSA.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Klinische Chemie und Laboratoriumsmedizin, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Junker
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zechel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Assmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002138:Calibration; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011467:Prostate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen