Relationships between reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for prostate specific antigen, survival, and various prognostic laboratory factors in patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer.

The detection of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) mRNA by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the bloodstream of prostate cancer patients has been hypothesized as a prognostic marker, however little data are available concerning the association between this molecular marker and other laboratory values of potential importance. In this study, in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC), relationships were determined between PSA RT-PCR positivity, survival, and various relevant markers including serum PSA, LDH, albumin, alkaline phosphatase and hemoglobin. A total of 19/30 HRPC patients were positive for PSA by RT-PCR.

Unexpected response of hormone-refractory prostate cancer to treatment with an antileukemic chemotherapy regimen.

Our patient was a 61-year-old man with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and a rapidly rising serum prostate-specific antigen level. During the course of therapy for prostate cancer, abnormal blood counts and subsequent bone marrow biopsy led to a diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He was treated with a chemotherapeutic regimen in standard use for lymphoblastic leukemia, which resulted in an unusual response of his prostate cancer, with declining serum prostate-specific antigen levels that had reached undetectable levels at the time of the patient's death from acute sepsis and leukemic relapse.