Tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA): usefulness in urological neoplasia.

Urine and serum samples from a group of 359 individuals were studied in order to evaluate the usefulness of TPA in patients with urological cancers. Serum was taken from 110 people at 12 noon (S1), 5 pm (S2), and 8 am the following day (S3), while urine samples were collected from 73 individuals over three time intervals: 8 am to 12 noon (U1), 12 noon to 5 pm (U2), and 5 pm to 8 am the following morning (U3). In addition, there were 24-hour urine samples from 176 persons. TPA concentrations in S1, S2, or S3 were not correlated with the presence of a tumor. In contrast, good correlation was observed between TPA concentrations in U1, U2, or U3 and disease status and an even better correlation existed between TPA in 24-hour urine samples and disease status. It is proposed that the judicious use of 24-hour urinary TPA levels should prove valuable in monitoring the course of urological cancers.