Evaluation of Efficacy of Tissue Polypeptide Specific Antigen in Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer in Patients with Elevated Prostatic SpecificAntigen within the Gray Zone A Prospective Randomized Clinical Study

Abstract

SUMMARY P rostate cancer (CaP) is one of the most common types of cancer in men worldwide. The incidence rates varies and it is much more common in Europe and USA than in Asian countries. In the United States and Europe, prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men and the annual incidence rate is 110-120 per 100 000 men with African-Americans at highest risk. The prognosis for CaP is good as the 10-year survival rate is 93%, given early detection and accurate monitoring of the disease (Jemal et al., 2003). The main diagnostic tools used to look for CaP include digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and serum prostate specific antigen (PSA). PSA is the most common tumor marker for prostate cancer, for screening, diagnosis, following therapy and for early detection of relapse. However, the PSA levels can also be affected by various benign conditions like certain medical procedures, benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatitis. PSA is an organ specific volume marker and does not reveal any information about the aggressiveness of the disease. A positive test only indicates that further evaluation of the patient is necessary (Polito et al., 1997).