prostatic acid phosphatase
Meaning of prostatic acid phosphatase: Prostatic acid phosphatase is an enzyme made by prostate tissue that once served as the primary blood marker for prostate cancer.
Definition of prostatic acid phosphatase
Prostatic acid phosphatase is an enzyme produced by cells of the prostate gland. Before the development of prostate specific antigen testing, blood levels of prostatic acid phosphatase were the primary laboratory marker used to help detect and monitor prostate cancer, particularly disease that had spread beyond the prostate itself.
Prostatic acid phosphatase is less commonly used for that purpose today, since prostate specific antigen testing generally offers greater sensitivity for detecting prostate cancer at an earlier stage, though prostatic acid phosphatase testing is still used in certain specific clinical situations.
The enzyme also has uses outside cancer detection, including as a marker in forensic testing to help identify the presence of seminal fluid, reflecting its origin from prostate tissue rather than any property unique to cancer cells.
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Used in a sentence
Prostatic acid phosphatase levels were measured in addition to prostate specific antigen during the evaluation.
Good to know
Prostatic acid phosphatase has been largely superseded by prostate specific antigen as the standard blood marker for prostate cancer, though it remains a distinct test still used in certain specific situations.