Prostate-specific antigen in management of prostatic carcinoma.

In 1979, Wang and associates isolated prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Only recently, however, has the clinical importance of this new tumor marker been recognized. It is now widely accepted that PSA represents a significantly more effective tumor marker than prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP). This article will review the chemistry associated with PSA, the application of PSA in immunohistochemistry, salient features of the two clinically available assays, factors that affect the circulating level of PSA, and the usefulness of PSA in the staging, monitoring, and screening of patients with prostatic carcinoma.