[Clinical study of the measurement of tissue polypeptide antigen in patients with breast cancer].

Tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) concentrations in patients with breast cancer were measured using a radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit. Although this RIA kit presented some problems in the dilution test of high-concentration samples, it was found to be adequate for clinical use. It was shown that the measurement of serum TPA concentration was useful in monitoring the local recurrence, for the early diagnosis of distant metastasis and for evaluating the therapeutical effect after surgery. TPA concentration showed no correlation with CEA concentration. Therefore, in order to raise the rate of diagnostic success, simultaneous measurement of both TPA and CEA was essential.