Discovery and validation of prostate cancer biomarkers
Year: 2013
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The prostate, derived from the Greek word προστάτης – prostates, meaning “the one\nwho stands before”, is a walnut-sized exocrine gland, part of the male genitourinary\ntract. It produces and stores an alkaline fluid, which liquefies the semen and prolongs\nthe life-span of the spermatozoa. Anatomically, the prostate is located underneath\nthe bladder and in front of the rectum, surrounding the urethra. The prostate can be\ndivided into four distinct zones: the peripheral zone, the central zone, the transition\nzone and the anterior fibromuscular zone. The majority of prostate cancers (PCa)\noriginate from the peripheral zone. The transition zone is responsible for the disease\nof benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).\nThe epithelial cells of the prostate gland produce prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a\n34kD glycoprotein. It is also known as kallikrein III (KLK3), seminin, semenogelase,\nγ-seminoprotein or P-30 antigen. PSA is the protein in prostate fluid which is\nresponsible for the lysis of the gel proteins, resulting in the liquefaction of the semen.\nIn 1971, PSA was discovered by a Japanese research group as a result from a forensic\nsearch to identify specific proteins present in the ejaculate and was originally named\nγ-seminoprotein. Later, PSA was specifically linked to the prostate and prostatic\ndisease and was shown to be almost exclusively present in the epithelial cells of the\nprostate. PSA was first measured quantitatively in human serum by Papsidero and\nKuriyama et al. in 1980.\nNormally, PSA is confined within the prostate and only a minute amount leaks\ninto the circulation. In men with PCa, PSA serum levels may be increased. Unlik
Author: F. W. Jansen
Language: English
Subfield: Urology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W142456599