Bone Marrow Acid Phosphatase by Radioimmunoassay: 3 Years of Experience

Abstract

Clinical follow-up of 112 [prostatic carcinoma] patients staged by the immunochemical determination of prostatic acid phosphatase from bone marrow aspirates is presented. This represents a 94% (112 of 118) retrieval rate of a group studied more than 2 yr previously. Of the 11 patients judged to be at high risk, 4 (36%) have bony metastases; only 3 of 86 patients (3%) with normal bone marrow acid phosphatase by radiommunoassay have done so. An additional 184 patients with carcinoma and 77 controls were studied. Although radioimmunoassay greatly improves specificity in bone marrow aspirates a few falsely positive results can occur. This finding may be secondary to cross reaction from leukocyte acid phosphatase and/or interference from lipid.