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

But there’s an important catch: Those strong survival numbers depend heavily on regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood tests. —Health, 18 Sep. 2025

The nation’s leading nonprofit funder of prostate cancer research is urging men to take a simple step that could save their lives–getting the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. —Essence, 16 Sep. 2025

Men with the following characteristics are considered to be at high risk for prostate cancer: The PSA blood test checks the level of prostate-specific antigen, a protein made by the prostate. —Julie Scott, People.com, 8 July 2025

It’s almost always detected via a routine prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, a screening blood test that most men undergo every couple of years or so starting around age 50 for those with average risk. —Angela Haupt, Time, 27 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prostate-specific antigen

• trigone

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