Clinical significance of tissue polypeptide antigen in serum of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia

Tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) in serum was measured at diagnosis in 27 patients with acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) (1 FAB M0, 1 M1, 10 M2, 7 M3, 5 M4, 1 M5, 1 M6 and 1 MU). Statistical analysis disclosed a close correlation of TPA level with age (P < 0.01), hemoglobin level (P < 0.05), therapeutic response (P < 0.01) and the length of survival after the initial diagnosis (P < 0.02). A signficant difference in TPA level was present between patients with complete remission and those with poor response. To our knowledge, this is the first report to prove a correlation of TPA level with therapeutic response and the length of survival in ANLL.