IMMUNOCHEMICAL DETECTION OF SERUM PROSTATIC ACID-PHOSPHATASE - METHODOLOGY AND CLINICAL EVALUATION

Abstract

An immunochemical method for detection of prostatic acid phosphatase is described. Purified acid phosphatase was isolated from cancerous human prostate. A specific antiserum to the purified enzyme was produced in rabbits. The antiserum to prostatic acid phosphatase did not react with acid phosphatase originating from other tissues. Counter immunoelectrophoresis, utilizing the specific antibodies and a chemical staining technique, was developed and clinically evaluated. Sera from patients with prostatic carcinoma (6/20 of stage B, 27/49 of stage C and 98/125 of stage D) gave positive results. Sera from 19 patients with benign prostatic hypertrophy, 89 patients with other tumors, 12 patients with Gaucher''s disease, 107 healthy volunteers and 50 normal age-matched men all gave negative results. The sensitivity of this method was 0.4 IU of enzyme activity or 20 ng/ml of prostatic acid phosphatase protein. Further clinical evaluation of patients in the early stages of prostatic cancer and patients undergoing chemotherapy is in progress.