prostate-specific antigen

noun

pros·​tate-spe·​cif·​ic antigen

: a protease secreted by epithelial cells of the prostate gland that is used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer since its concentration in blood serum tends to be proportional to the clinical stage of the disease

—abbreviation PSA

Examples of prostate-specific antigen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wojnarowski had a physical in February, when his blood tests revealed an elevated level of PSA, or prostate-specific antigen, according to SI. —Gabriella Rudy, NBC News, 5 Dec. 2024

Some people do not experience symptoms, so regular screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests and digital rectal exams (DRE) are important for early detection. —Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Health, 5 Sep. 2024

Separately, right before the pandemic hit in February 2020, my general practitioner began noticing my prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were increasing. —Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2024

And huge gains made in prostate cancer death rates from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s – a result of the emergence of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing – appear to have leveled off since about 2012. —Andre Mouchard, Orange County Register, 28 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

prostate-specific antigen

noun

: a protease that is secreted by the epithelial cells of the prostate and is used in the diagnosis of prostate cancer since its concentration in the blood serum tends to be proportional to the clinical stage of the disease

—abbreviation PSA