The significance of PSA/IGF-1 ratio in differentiating benign prostate hyperplasia from prostate cancer

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Koliakos, G. | Chatzivasiliou, D. | Dimopoulos, Th. | Trachana, V. | Paschalidou, K. | Galiamoutsas, V. | Triantos, A. | Chitas, G. | Dimopoulos, A. | Vlatsas, G.

Affiliations: Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece | Urology Clinic, Hospital ``Panagia'', Social Security Foundation, Thessaloniki, Greece

Note: [] PO Box 17034, 54210, Thessaloniki, Greece. Tel.: +30 31 999123; Fax: +30 31 999004; E-mail: koliakos@med.auth.gr

Abstract: The importance of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in human serum for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer is controversial. The IGF-1/PSA ratio may improve the performance of prostate specific antigen (PSA) as a prostate cancer marker. IGF-1, along with PSA and free PSA concentration, was measured in the serum of 34 patients with prostate cancer and in 131 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Although IGF-1 concentration did not significantly differ between the groups, PSA/IGF-1 ratio could clearly distinguish the two groups. In patients with cancer but not in patients with BPH, IGF-1 concentration correlated with PSA and free PSA. The values of PSA and free PSA correlated with each other for both groups. Receivers Operating Curve (ROC) analysis indicated a better sensitivity to specificity ratio for PSA/IGF-1 than for PSA or Free/Total (F/T) PSA.

Keywords: PSA, IGF-1, prostate cancer, prostatic hypertrophy

Journal: Disease Markers, vol. 16, no. 3-4, pp. 143-146, 2000