Radioimmunochemical Measurement of Bone Marrow Prostatic Acid Phosphatase

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Human acid phosphatases are ubiquitous phosphohydrolases that are present in most respiring tissues and cells. Prostatic acid phosphatase is a unique enzyme within a vast family of acid phosphatases concerned with catabolic processes in cellular metabolism. The majority of serum and bone marrow acid phosphatases are of nonprostatic origin and are present chiefly in erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets and other maturing cells in the bone marrow. The specific concentration of prostatic acid phosphatase in serum and bone marrow is normally relatively low compared to nonprostatic acid phosphatases. Many falsely positive assays for total serum acid phosphatases and bone marrow acid phosphatase were reported, particularly after traumatic marrow biopsy procedures and mishandling of blood samples in the clinical laboratory and hematologic disease states. The disruption and lysis of whole blood and marrow cells can liberate nonspecific acid phosphatases into the serum. Since standard enzymatic assays do not accurately discriminate prostatic from nonprostatic acid phosphatase present in the serum spurious results can be realized. A preliminary experience with a promising radioimmunoassay for the specific measurement of prostatic acid phosphatase in bone marrow and serum is presented as a diagnostic test for prostate cancer.