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Change in the ratio of free‐to‐total prostate‐specific antigen during progression of advanced prostate cancer
Author(s) -
TANAKA MASASHI,
MURAKAMI SHINO,
SUZUKI NORIYUKI,
SHIMAZAKI JUN
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
international journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.172
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1442-2042
pISSN - 0919-8172
DOI - 10.1046/j.1442-2042.2000.00144.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hyperplasia , prostate cancer , urology , prostate , prostate specific antigen , stage (stratigraphy) , cancer , endocrine system , oncology , hormone , paleontology , biology
Background: The ratio of free‐to‐total prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) is different in benign prostatic hyperplasia and in the early stage of prostate cancer. The present study was undertaken to examine the ratio of free‐to‐total PSA in the advanced stage of this cancer and its subsequent change during course of the disease.Methods: Free and total PSA were measured in sera collected from the following patients with benign and cancerous prostatic diseases: 47 cases of benign prostatic hypertrophy, nine in T1C with less than 10 ng/mL of total PSA, 11 in stage C, 16 in D2, 22 in remission under endocrine therapy, and 12 in relapse. In addition, PSA was measured sequentially in four other patients who were also in relapse.Results: The ratio of free‐to‐total PSA was similar in early and advanced stages of untreated prostate cancer and was lower than that in benign prostatic hyperplasia. The ratio increased to the level of benign prostatic hyperplasia during remission from stages C and D2 under endocrine therapy. There was no correlation with the intervals from the start of the therapy to examination. Following relapse, the ratio came down gradually to the level obtained in untreated prostate cancer.Conclusion: The ratio of free‐to‐total PSA was similar in all stages of untreated prostate cancer. Response and relapse to endocrine therapy were associated with increase and decrease in ratio, respectively.