Prostate specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase measurements for the follow-up of patients with prostate cancer.

The clinical application of 84 prostate specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) measurements for the follow-up of 36 patients with treated prostate cancer was retrospectively examined by case study. Clinicians use several risk markers including serum levels of PSA and PAP to monitor prostate cancer progression or stability. These results of PAP and PSA tests were either utilized during the patient's clinical assessment or they were disregarded. In either case, the results would support or counter the physician's clinical decision for patient management. After predictive value analysis it was concluded that measurement of PSA alone is more useful than parallel measurements of PSA and PAP, when utilized together with standard criteria for assessing treated prostate cancer patients.