Tissue polypeptide specific antigen serum concentrations in patients with newly diagnosed prostatic diseases.
Recently, tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS), a cytokeratin 18 marker, was described to be discriminative between cancer of the prostate (CaP) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In our study we investigated the ability of the TPS serum concentration as a staging marker in patients with newly diagnosed CaP.


METHODS
Serum levels of TPS and PSA were determined in patients with newly diagnosed, untreated CaP (pT1-3pNoMo: n = 71; T1-4NxM+: n = 39) and BPH (n = 30). The TPS serum concentration was correlated to the PSA serum concentration.


RESULTS
Median TPS concentration was 33.6 U/L in the pT1-3pNoMo-group; 113.5 U/L in the Tl-4NxM(+)-group and 59.7 U/L in the BPH-group. Although the TPS concentration failed to discriminate between patients with localized CaP and BPH, it discriminated very well between patients with (M+) and without (Mo) bone metastases (p < 0.001). Furthermore no correlation with PSA levels could be established.


CONCLUSIONS
The TPS serum concentration seems to provide additional information in the initial staging of patients with newly diagnosed untreated CaP.
Wolff
J M
JM
Department of Urology, University of Rostock, E-Heydemannstr. 6, 18055 Rostock, Germany.
Rohde
D
D
Borchers
H
H
Jakse
G
G
D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D011379:Prognosis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D010455:Peptides; C089984:tissue polypeptide specific antigen