Significance of plasma tissue polypeptide antigen determination for diagnosis and follow-up of urothelial bladder cancer.

Plasma concentrations of tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) were determined in 104 patients with all stages and grades of urinary bladder cancer. Patients with evidence of bacterial or virus infections were excluded. In addition, follow-up controls after treatment were performed. At a rate of 5% false positive values, the diagnostic sensitivity for the tumour stage pTis/pT1 was 63% and for the stages pT2-4 it was 76%. Patients with proved lymph node or distant metastases showed elevated values in 100% of cases. A positive correlation was found between the 3 grades of malignancy and the TPA concentrations. Except for the tumour diagnosis, TPA is a valuable parameter for follow-up controls. Our results show a very good correlation of the plasma TPA concentration with tumour progression as well as with stabilisation and regression after treatment.