Serum concentrations of prostatic acid phosphatase, prostate-specific antigen, neopterin, osteocalcin,tissue polypeptide antigen, and CA-50 were measured before onset of treatment in 86 patients suffering from prostatic carcinoma. In an attempt to identify patients with a poor prognosis, the data were related to patient survival after 3 years. When the standard reference values, which are based on studies on healthy subjects, were used in the study on the deceased, the diagnostic sensitivity was acceptable, whereas the diagnostic specificity was low. A better relation to prognosis was obtained if higher discrimination values were employed. The increased specificity could be obtained with little loss of sensitivity. It is suggested that the discrimination value should be chosen after careful consideration of the expected performance of the test in differentiating between defined groups of patients. To indicate short-term prognosis in prostatic cancer, a higher than normally recommended discrimination value for the marker should be selected.

Keywords:
Prostatic cancer, prognosis, Prostate-specific antigen, Prostatic acid phosphatase, Neopterin, Osteocalcin, Tissue polypeptide antigen, CA-50
This content is only available via PDF.
1990
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.