THE VALUE OF THE PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGE N (PSA) FOR THE CONTROL OF TREATMENT OF PROSTATE CARCINOMA

The prostate specific antigen (PSA) has gained great importance for th e diagnosis and the treatment of prostate carcinoma since its isolatio n from prostate tissue in 1979. PSA is produced and secreted almost on ly by the prostatic tissue. After radical prostatectomy PSA changes fr om a tissue specific marker to a tumor specific parameter. At least 30 days after radical prostatectomy the PSA serum level should decline t o nondetectable values. A high incidence for a local recurrence, dista nt metastases, or a incomplete resection of the prostate is a still pr e sent PSA serum value. After a radiation or androgen deprivation ther apy the PSA value is a prognostic marker. A good prognosis can be expe cted if the PSA level decreases after androgen deprivation therapy to values below 4 ng/ml. In contrast to that increasing PSA levels indica te a local or distant recurrence. Progression of the tumor without an increase of PSA values is possible but rare. It could be shown in seve ral studies, that the determination of PSA values is sufficient for ro utine treatment control and that other methods could therefore be omit ted.