A study of biological determinants of serum prostate specific antigen level in prostatic adenocarcinoma with normal, borderline, and high serum PSA levels

Abstract

Objectives: To find out the reasons for discrepancy in the serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values (normal, borderline, and high) in prostatic adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: It is a retrospective correlation study of serum PSA levels with the histomorphological variables and age of the patients in adenocarcinoma prostate with normal, borderline, and high serum PSA values. Age of the patients was noted down and hematoxylin and eosin-stained, paraffin-blocked sections were studied. Results: Serum PSA values were found to be directly related to histomorphological variables like Gleason grade and score, tumor cell mass to stroma ratio, necrosis, and cell size; but not with the age of the patients with prostatic adenocarcinoma. Discussion: Publications on relationship between serum PSA levels and Gleason grade and score in adenocarcinoma prostate are rarely found in the literature. Infarction (coagulation necrosis) increases serum value of PSA in benign prostatic tissue which can be true with carcinomas also, as in the present study. Various histomorphologic variables also may affect the serum PSA levels. The age of the patient and serum PSA levels in carcinoma prostate is not found directly proportional, in this study, unlike in normal individuals who show age-specific PSA ranges.