Prostate Specific Antigen is Metabolized in the Liver

No AccessJournal of UrologyClinical Urology: Original Article1 Apr 1996Prostate Specific Antigen is Metabolized in the Liver Arif H. Agha, Eliot Schechter, Johnny B. Roy, and Daniel J. Culkin Arif H. AghaArif H. Agha More articles by this author , Eliot SchechterEliot Schechter More articles by this author , Johnny B. RoyJohnny B. Roy More articles by this author , and Daniel J. CulkinDaniel J. Culkin More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-5347(01)66259-1AboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract Purpose: The site of metabolism of prostate specific antigen (PSA) was determined. Materials and Methods: In a prospective study, during clinically indicated left and right heart catheterizations for various cardiac diseases in 12 men (mean age 62.5 plus/minus 8.3 years, standard deviation), selective blood samples were obtained from the infra-renal, infra-hepatic and supra-hepatic inferior vena cava, renal vein, superior vena cava, pulmonary artery and femoral artery. Mean PSA concentration was calculated for all vascular sites. Using a paired Student t test, the mean difference between the afferent and efferent PSA concentrations across the renal, hepatic, pulmonary and pelvic circulation was calculated. Results: The hepatic gradient between the infra-hepatic and suprahepatic inferior vena cava showed the greatest decrease (0.11 plus/minus 0.16 ng./ml. or 8.3 percent) in PSA concentration and was statistically significant (p = 0.04). A smaller decrease across the pulmonary circulation was statistically insignificant. No decrease in the PSA concentration was noted across the renal circulation. The PSA concentration increased significantly (0.19 plus/minus 0.18 ng./ml. or 16.3 percent, p = 0.003) across the pelvic circulation, confirming the release of PSA from the prostate. Conclusions: PSA is released from the prostate. The kidneys and lungs do not have a significant role in elimination of PSA, and the liver appears to be the most likely site of its metabolism. Although our sample size is small and the PSA range is narrow, our results strongly support these conclusions. References 1 : Prostate-specific antigen as a serum marker for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. New Engl. J. Med.1987; 317: 909. Google Scholar 2 : Prostate-specific antigen as a marker for prostatic cancer: a monoclonal and a polyclonal immunoassay compared. Clin. Chem.1987; 33: 1916. Google Scholar 3 : Longitudinal evaluation of prostate-specific antigen levels in men with and without prostate disease. J.A.M.A.1992; 267: 2215. 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Google Scholar Departments of Urology and Cardiology, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma© 1996 by American Urological Association, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsCited byBreyer B, Whitson J, Freise C and Meng M (2018) Prostate Cancer Screening and Treatment in the Transplant Population: Current Status and RecommendationsJournal of Urology, VOL. 181, NO. 5, (2018-2026), Online publication date: 1-May-2009.BIRKENMEIER G, STRUCK F and GEBHARDT R (2018) CLEARANCE MECHANISM OF PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN AND ITS COMPLEXES WITH alpha 2-MACROGLOBULIN AND alpha 1-ANTICHYMOTRYPSINJournal of Urology, VOL. 162, NO. 3 Part 1, (897-901), Online publication date: 1-Sep-1999.Otto A, Bar J and Birkenmeier G (2018) PROSTATE-SPECIFIC ANTIGEN FORMS COMPLEXES WITH HUMAN alpha 2-MACROGLOBULIN AND BINDS TO THE alpha 2-MACROGLOBULIN RECEPTOR/LDL RECEPTOR-RELATED PROTEINJournal of Urology, VOL. 159, NO. 1, (297-303), Online publication date: 1-Jan-1998.Williams P, Eastham J, Culkin D, Mata J, Venable D and Sartor O (2018) INFLUENCE OF HEPATIC FUNCTION ON SERUM LEVELS OF PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGENJournal of Urology, VOL. 158, NO. 5, (1867-1869), Online publication date: 1-Nov-1997. Volume 155Issue 4April 1996Page: 1332-1335 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 1996 by American Urological Association, Inc.MetricsAuthor Information Arif H. Agha More articles by this author Eliot Schechter More articles by this author Johnny B. Roy More articles by this author Daniel J. Culkin More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...