Tissue polypeptide specific antigen serum concentrations in patients with newly diagnosed prostatic diseases

Recently, tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS), a cytokeratin 18 marke r; was described to be discriminative between cancer of the prostate (CaP) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In our study lye investigated the a bility of the TPS serum concentration as a staging marker in patients with newly diagnosed CaP Methods: Serum levels of TPS and PSA were determined in patients with newly diagnosed, untreated CaP (pT1-3pNoMo: n = 71; T1-4NxM:n=39) and BPH (n=30). The TPS serum concentration was correlated to the PS A serum concentration. Results: Median TPS concentration was 33.6 U/L in th e pT1-3pNoMo-group; 113.5 U/L in the Tl-4NxM+-group and 59.7 U/L in the BPH -group. Although the TPS concentration failed to discriminate between patie nts with localized CaP and BPH, it discriminated very well between patients with (M+) and without (Mo) bone metastases (p <0.001). Furthermore no corr elation with PSA levels could be established. Conclusion: The TPS serum con centration seems to provide additional information in the initial staging o f patients with newly diagnosed untreated CaP.