Full Length Research Paper

A study on prostate specific antigen (PSA) with the ratio of free to total PSA

Chavan Atish¹, Suman Diggi Prasad¹, Rawal Mukesh¹, Kandasamy Surendran², Sivapatham Sundaresan^3*, Thangarajan Thangapannerselvem⁴

¹Department of Biotechnology, School of Bioengineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu,  India- 603203, India.

²Central Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, SRM University,  Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India- 603203, India.

³Department of Medical Research, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu, India- 603203, India.

⁴Department of Biochemistry, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, SRM University, Kattankulathur, Tamil Nadu,  India- 603203, India.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: sundarsivapatham@rediffmail.com.  Tel: 044-27455317/ 044-27455701. Fax: 044-27455106/ 044-27453903.

Accepted 10 September, 2009

   Abstract

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) is a glycoprotein produced as a marker by prostate gland for prostate cancer, benign prostate hyperplasia and prostatitis. Study objective is to evaluate f/t PSA ratio to distinguish the Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer patients in and around SRM University. To define the age specific reference ranges of PSA in control and test group at Chennai, India. Healthy men aged 40 - 75 years in and around SRM Medical College and Research Centre, Chennai, India were selected and grouped as control. Blood samples were collected from patients who attended Cancer Hospital, Adiyar underwent rectal examination revealed prostate enlargement. Results of our study showed that they were diagnosed as BPH and as Cancer, using PSA determination. The free to total PSA ratio were decreased significantly in cancer patients than BPH. PSA was increased linearly with age and observations were associated with the claims of National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry guideline reported that the clinical decisions limits should be decreased for younger patients (age below 50) and should be increased for older patients (age above 50). PSA should be used more appropriately to distinguish (BPH) and prostate cancer and to detect cancer prostate at an early stage. The age specific reference ranges and different forms of PSA have the potential to make serum PSA, a more discriminating tumor marker for detecting cancer prostate significantly in men.

Key words: Prostate specific antigen, free PSA prostate cancer, benign prostate hyperplasia, free to total PSA ratio, complex PSA, percentage of free PSA.