Serum acid phosphatase consists of 5 isoenzymes that originate mainly from erythrocytes, platelets, spleen and liver reticuloendothelial cells, the kidneys, bone, and prostate epithelial cells. Prostatic acid phosphatase isoenzyme 2 is formed mainly, but not exclusively, in the prostate.
In general, total acid phosphatase and prostatic acid phosphatase levels increase in the presence of progressive and metastasizing prostate carcinoma, the increase being dependent upon the disease stage in 80 % of patients with metastasizing prostate cancer. The percentage increase at each stage depends on the classification (pathological or clinical).
Increased acid phosphatase levels occur in Gaucher’s disease, Niemann‑Pick disease, 1‑2 days after prostate surgery, biopsy, manipulation or catheterization, and in the presence of benign prostate hypertrophy, prostatitis and prostate infarction