Prostatic acid phosphatase as measured with two radioimmunoassay kits in the detection of prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Serum prostatic acid phosphatase concentration was measured with two commercially available radioimmunoassay kits. Results were compared with histological evidence of prostatic adenocarcinoma obtained at autopsy in 33 patients. The serum assay did not differentiate significantly (p greater than 0.1) between patients with adenocarcinoma and those without. We conclude that the test, at least as performed by use of these kits, is of little value in the detection of occult disease.