The role of lipid-associated sialic acid (LSA) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) in the follow-up of prostatic cancer.

According to the most recent US cancer statistics, prostatic cancer almost equals lung cancer as the most frequent cause of death from cancer in men. The search for diagnostic methods as well as control examinations have therefore gained great importance. The present study reveals that--in addition to rectal touch, sonography and biopsy of the prostate--the determination of both PSA as organ-specific marker and lipid-associated sialic acid (LSA) as a general tumor marker, is well suited for follow-up and monitoring treatment. With regard to the follow-up, the combined determination of PSA and LSA in serum of patients with prostatic cancer achieves a higher sensitivity as compared to PSA alone (increase of 30-40%). LSA is a good indicator for the presence of metastases. Therefore, the determination of LSA should become an integral part of treatment monitoring and detection of metastatic disease in patients with prostatic cancer.