Prostatic acid phosphatase

• OMIM: 171 790
• UniProt: P15309
• MGI: 1928480

The prostate -specific acid phosphatase ( abbreviated as PAP, ENGL prostatic acid phosphatase. ) Is a glycoprotein enzyme that is produced in mammals and fish. It is formed in human prostate. About the membership of the acid phosphatases addition, nothing definite is known about its function. Laboratory value is the activity of the prostatic tissue, and can therefore be used for their removal to the control.

Laboratory

In the diagnosis of PAP is mainly used to monitor the progress of prostate cancer. It is used here with the more significant prostate specific antigen (PSA) as a tumor marker. Since elevated PAP concentrations in blood serum are measured not only in malignant but also in benign diseases of the prostate, the PAP is considered to be organ-specific marker and not as a tumor specific.

Assessment

In healthy man, the concentration is less than 2.0 ng / ml in serum. Values ​​above 3.5 ng / ml are pathological. Persistent pathological values ​​during therapy of prostate cancer indicate a treatment failure.

Non-specific PAP increases in serum occur mainly in benign prostatic hyperplasia, but also on or after manual actions on the prostate gland ( palpation, catheterization ), or inflammation of the prostate.

Use

Recent research also suggest that PAP could be used as a highly effective painkiller.