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Prostate‐specific antigen detection by ultrasensitive assay in samples from women
Author(s) -
Filella Xavier,
Molina Rafael,
Alcover Juan,
Menéndez Violeta,
Giménez Núria,
Jo Judith,
Carretero Pablo,
Ballesta Antonio Manuel
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
the prostate
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.295
H-Index - 123
eISSN - 1097-0045
pISSN - 0270-4137
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0045(199611)29:5<311::aid-pros6>3.0.co;2-c
Subject(s) - medicine , prostate specific antigen , prostate , antigen , prostate cancer , tumor marker , breast cancer , pathology , cancer , immunology
BACKGROUND The Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) has been characterized as a specific prostate marker. Recent studies have indicated the existence of a PSA of nonprostatic origin detected in lactating women and breast tumors. METHODS We have evaluated the presence of PSA by an ultransensitive assay (COBAS CORE) in 252 serum and non serum samples from women. RESULTS The results demonstrate the presence of PSA in 100% of the breast secretions, 81% of the breast cysts, 80% of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids and 71% of the cytosols of breast cancer. Likewise, PSA was detected in 14% of the sera evaluated, although the concentrations were always lower than 0.5 ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that PSA should not continue being considered as the specific prostate tissue marker although, given that the serum concentrations detected are very low, they co appear to interfere to a minimum extent in the usefulness of PSA as a tumor marker. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.