title: Serum (-5, -7) proPSA for distinguishing stage and grade of prostate cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  ProPSA has been suggested for the detection of preferentially aggressive prostate cancer (PCa). We report on the use of proPSA and free PSA to enhance preoperative staging and grading.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples from 376 PCa patients within the PSA range 1-25 microg/l who underwent radical prostatectomy were analysed for PSA, free PSA (fPSA) and (-5, -7) proPSA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ProPSA was only significantly different between pT2 and pT3 PCa (p = 0.02) in the subgroup of patients with % fPSA < 10%. The ratio proPSA/% fPSA differed between G2 and G3 (p = 0.004), Gleason < 7 and Gleason > or =7 (p = 0.001), and pT2 and pT3 tumors (p < 0.0001) at PSA 1-25 microg/l. However, % fPSA improved differentiation only between Gleason < 7 and Gleason > or = 7 tumors, not between pT2 and pT3 or G2 and G3 tumors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ProPSA as a single parameter did not improve the detection of non-organ confined or aggressive PCa whereas proPSA/% fPSA further improved staging and grading within all analysed PSA ranges.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Neurology, Universitätsmedizin Charité Berlin, CCM, Germany. carsten.stephan@charite.de
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stephan
authors.forename: Hellmuth-Alexander
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Eva-Maria
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kristiansen
authors.forename: Stefan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Loening
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lein
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011498:Protein Precursors; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen