OBJECTIVES: Recently, tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS), a cytokeratin 18 marker, was described to be discriminative between cancer of the prostate (CaP) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Cyfra 8/18, a marker which recognizes both cytokeratin 8 and 18 fragments, is discussed to improve sensitivity and specificity of TPS. We investigated whether Cyfra 8/18 serum concentration discriminates between patients with clinically localized CaP and BPH. METHODS: Serum Cyfra 8/18 levels were determined in patients with untreated CaP before radical prostatectomy (pT1-3pNoMo; n = 11) and with histologically confirmed BPH (n = 22). Cyfra 8/18 concentration was correlated to the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration. RESULTS: Median Cyfra 8/18 level was 0.64 ng/ml in CaP patients and 0.57 ng/ml in BPH patients. This difference is statistically not significant (p = 0.91). Furthermore, no correlation to PSA levels could be established (CaP: r = 0.036; BPH: r = 0.09). CONCLUSION: In contrast to a recent report we found the Cyfra 8/18 serum concentration to be a nondiscriminative parameter between CaP and BPH.
OBJECTIVES: Recently, tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS), a cytokeratin 18 marker, was described to be discriminative between cancer of the prostate (CaP) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Cyfra 8/18, a marker which recognizes both cytokeratin 8 and 18 fragments, is discussed to improve sensitivity and specificity of TPS. We investigated whether Cyfra 8/18 serum concentration discriminates between patients with clinically localized CaP and BPH. METHODS: Serum Cyfra 8/18 levels were determined in patients with untreated CaP before radical prostatectomy (pT1-3pNoMo; n = 11) and with histologically confirmed BPH (n = 22). Cyfra 8/18 concentration was correlated to the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration. RESULTS: Median Cyfra 8/18 level was 0.64 ng/ml in CaPpatients and 0.57 ng/ml in BPH patients. This difference is statistically not significant (p = 0.91). Furthermore, no correlation to PSA levels could be established (CaP: r = 0.036; BPH: r = 0.09). CONCLUSION: In contrast to a recent report we found the Cyfra 8/18 serum concentration to be a nondiscriminative parameter between CaP and BPH.