BETA-MICROSEMINOPROTEIN IMMUNOREACTIVITY AS A NEW PROGNOSTIC INDICATOR OF PROSTATIC-CARCINOMA

Human beta-microseminoprotein (beta-MSP), isolated from seminal plasma , is one of the proteins secreted by the prostate gland. To determine whether the beta-MSP immunoreactivity can be a prognostic indicator of prostatic carcinoma, the beta-MSP immunohistochemical distribution ha s been examined in needle biopsy specimens taken from 96 patients with prostatic carcinoma. Although no significant correlation was found be tween the beta-MSP immunoreactivity and the histological grade (Gleaso n score), patients with a positive beta-MSP expression had a significa ntly better prognosis than those with a negative beta-MSP expression ( P = 0.01). Further, a multivariate analysis of six possible parameters (age, clinical stage, histological grade, serum prostatic acid phosph atase, beta-MSP immunoreactivity, and the type of initial treatment) h as shown the difference in the beta-MSP immunoreactivity to be a signi ficant, independent, prognostic indicator of prostatic carcinoma (P = 0.04). (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.