CLINICAL-EVALUATION OF FREE PSA TOTAL PSA (PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN)RATIO IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF PROSTATE-CANCER

The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of the free/to tal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ratio (per cent free PSA) in the d iagnosis of prostate cancer. Serum total PSA and free PSA concentratio ns were measured in 156 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH ) and 74 patients with prostate cancer using Hybritech Tandem immunora diometric assays. Patients with prostate cancer had a significantly lo wer free/total PSA ratio than patients with BPH, although the distribu tions across study groups overlapped. In patients with a total PSA lev el between 4 mu g/l and 25 mu g/l, free/total PSA demonstrated better diagnostic utility than total PSA alone. (C) 1997 Published by Elsevie r Science Ltd.