prostate-specific antigen

noun pros·tate-spe·cif·ic antigen

Definition of prostate-specific 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

Recent Examples of prostate-specific antigen from the Web

The new research has reignited debate over screening for prostate cancer through prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests.

— Washington Post, "The Health 202: How Democrats got a version of 'right to try' they like even less," 23 May 2018
Nevertheless, the new data immediately reignited long-running arguments over the use of screening through prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, tests.

— laurie mcginley, BostonGlobe.com, "After long decline, death rates from prostate cancer stop falling," 22 May 2018
But according to new research, prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-based screening for men in the 55 to 69 age group could prevent 1.3 deaths and 3 cases of cancer metastases for every 1,000 men screened.

— mark lieber, CNN, "Prostate cancer screening recommendations get rolled back by US task force," 8 May 2018
Consequently, more than half of those men with an elevated prostate-specific antigen do not actually have cancer, according to Hoffman.

— mark lieber, CNN, "Prostate cancer screening recommendations get rolled back by US task force," 8 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prostate-specific antigen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of prostate-specific antigen

1979

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

prostate-specific antigen

noun

medical Definition of prostate-specific antigen

: 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