TPS is a new tumor marker immunoassay that indicates tumor proliferative rate rather than tumor burden. Thirty-nine patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including 18 cases with recurrence and 21 cases without recurrence 1 year postoperation, were enrolled in this study. The serial serum levels of tissue polypeptide specific antigen (TPS) were measured before operation and 1 week, 4 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months after operation, using an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA), for early detection of recurrence. The results revealed that mean serum values of TPS were higher in 18 patients with recurrent cancer (103.5, 69.2, 88.1, 137.0, 108.6, 170.5, and 106.3 U/l) when compared with 21 patients without recurrent cancer (86.7, 53.0, 54.5, 57.4, 52.3, 52.0, and 58.6 U/l), preoperation and at all times after operation. If the TPS serum level 1 week after operation was considered as the baseline level (1x), elevated TPS ratios were higher in 18 patients with recurrence (1.2x, 2.5x, 2.1x, 4.3x, and 3.0x) when compared with 21 patients without recurrence (1.1x, 1.1x, 1.0x, 1.0x, and 1.1x), 4 weeks to 12 months after operation. We conclude that TPS is a suitable marker for early prediction of NSCLC recurrence. Patients with recurrent NSCLC within 1 year postoperation showed higher serum TPS levels and elevated TPS ratios than patients without recurrent NSCLC.

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