Serum human glandular kallikrein (hK2) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) improve the discrimination between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia in combination with total and %free PSA.
BACKGROUND
There is growing evidence describing an association of hK2 and IGFs with cancer. The aim of this study is to investigate the differences in serum levels of hK2 and IGFs in a large group of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or prostatic carcinoma (CaP) and to examine the value of these variables, as well as their various combinations with PSA, for discriminating between these two clinical entities.


METHODS
Human glandular kallikrein 2 (hK2), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), free and total PSA concentrations were measured with non-competitive immunological procedures. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis as well as univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to investigate the potential utility of the various markers and their combinations for discriminating between BPH and CaP.


RESULTS
hK2 and IGF-1 concentrations were increased in CaP patients, in comparison to BPH patients. hK2/free PSA and free/total PSA ratios (area under the curve, AUC = 0.70) were stronger predictors of prostate cancer than the IGF-1/total PSA ratio (AUC = 0.56) in the group of patients with total PSA <4 microg/L. The hK2/free PSA ratio (AUC = 0.74) was found to have significant discriminatory value in patients with total PSA within the "gray zone" (4-10 microg/L). Multivariate logistic regression models confirmed the observed relationships and identified IGF-1/free PSA and hK2/free PSA as independent predictors of CaP.


CONCLUSIONS
hK2/free PSA and IGF-1/free PSA ratios may be useful adjuncts in improving patient selection for prostate biopsy.
Scorilas
Andreas
A
National Center for Scientific Research Demokritos, IPC, Athens, Greece.
Plebani
Mario
M
Mazza
Saverio
S
Basso
Daniela
D
Soosaipillai
Antoninus R
AR
Katsaros
Nikos
N
Pagano
Francesco
F
Diamandis
Eleftherios P
EP
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020840:Tissue Kallikreins / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D020840:Tissue Kallikreins; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen