Antigenicity of human prostatic acid phosphatase

Using human sperm free ejaculate and the juice of hyperplastic prostatic tissue separately as antigens, antisera were raised in goats. Both reacted against human tissues and precipitated prostatic acid phosphatase. Absorption with homogenates of extraprostatic human tissues removed all precipitin bands except those associated with the prostate. Two of these were shown to contain acid phosphatase, proving the organ specificity of this enzyme. Two other bands also clearly unique for the prostate, contained no stainable phosphatase activity and are currently being characterized. In the serum of two patients with prostatic carcinoma, the absorbed antiserum precipitated acid phosphatase, proving its prostatic origin and suggesting that other tumor systems retaining organ-specific antigens might also reflect their activity in serum.