Tissue polypeptide-specific antigen: a discriminative parameter between prostate cancer and benign prostatic hypertrophy.

The serum concentration of the cell proliferation marker TPS (tissue polypeptide-specific antigen) was compared with the tumour marker PSA (prostate specific antigen). PSA was found elevated in 50% of the benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) patients, in 88% of the patients with active prostate cancer and in 40% of the patients who were in an inactive phase. For TPS these values were 6, 34 and 0%, respectively. The metastatic progression was biochemically mirrored by pronounced elevations of PSA and TPS. These data suggest that TPS might be a valuable adjunct in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with prostate cancer, especially in differentiating benign from malignant deterioration of the disease.