Acute phase reactant proteins in prostatic cancer.

A profile of acute phase reactant proteins has been studied in patients with cancer of the prostate as an aid to diagnostic staging and therapy control. A linear discriminant function analysis incorporating serum acid phosphatase, prealbumin, alpha1 antitrypsin, alpha1 acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin allows the correct identification of metastatic disease in 88.6% of patients. The profile may also serve to augment other parameters in the assessment of the physiological effect of oestrogen treatment and show whether the prescribed medication is being taken.