Prostatic Acid Phosphatase

Prostatic Acid Phosphatase (PAP) catalyzes the dephosphorylation of organic monophosphate esters, demonstrating optimum activity at acidid pH. Produced by the prostatic epithelium, serum levels of PAP are very low in healthy individuals (0-5 ng/ml), but are often elevated in malignant and benign prostatic disease. As such, immunoassays for PAP serum levels are useful in monitoring disease progression in prostate cancer.