Comparative evaluation of serum acid phosphatase, urinary cholesterol, and androgens in diagnosis of prostatic cancer.

Serum acid phosphatase activity, urinary total cholesterol, and ratio of deoxy to oxy urinary 17-ketosteroids were measured in a group of 42 patients with prostatic carcinoma and in a group of 14 age-matched normal healthy individuals. Our purpose was to evaluate whether or not the simultaneous determinations of these tests would increase the rate of detection obtained by the single assay alone. The results of single assay revealed for the following detection rate: 67 per cent (28 of 42 patients) for serum acid phosphatase, 62 per cent for urinary total cholesterol, and 22 per cent for ratio of 17-ketosteroids. A significant increase of detection rate was observed when simultaneous determinations of two assays were performed; 86 per cent for serum acid phosphatase activity and total urinary cholesterol; 74 per cent for serum acid phosphatase and ratio of 17-ketosteroids; and 74 per cent for total urinary cholesterol and ratio of 17-ketosteroids. A detection rate of 88 per cent (37 of 42 patients) was obtained as all three assays were analyzed, though it was not significantly different from a ratio of 86 per cent for simultaneous assays of acid phosphatase and total cholesterol. It was concluded that simultaneous determinations of serum acid phosphatase activity, urinary total cholesterol, and androgens are of values in diagnosis for patients with prostatic neoplasia.