Potential biomarkers for differentiation of benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer.

This study aims to evaluate the role of free/total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ratio, serum total sialic acid level and cathepsin D activity in the differentiation of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The study looked at 100 patients with BPH, 75 patients with organ-confined or locally advanced prostate cancer, and a control group of 50 healthy volunteers. Prostate cancer patients showed significantly higher total sialic acid level and cathepsin D activity and lower free/total PSA ratio than those in the BPH group. The results suggest that combined measurement of serum total sialic acid and/or cathepsin D activity with free/total PSA ratio could serve as a useful adjunct to conventional diagnostics for the differentiation of prostate cancer and BPH.