Clinical assessment of solid phase immunoadsorbent assay of human prostatic acid phosphatase.

A new solid phase immunoenzyme assay for human prostatic acid phosphatase was tested in clinical practice. Clearly elevated levels of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) were found with advancing age and even more so in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). In patients with localized carcinoma of the prostate there was no elevation of levels above those observed in patients with BPH. When lymph node metastases were found at staging lymphadenectomy, the preoperative level of prostatic acid phosphatase was elevated in 7 of 12 cases. Good response to hormone treatment of metastatic carcinoma of the prostate was indicated by decrease of PAP-levels to normal. Rising levels often preceded the clinical manifestation of progression.