The spectrum of prostate specific antigen values in organ-confined prostate cancer

Abstract

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentration in localized serum of the prostate cancer (PCa) in patients, depends of numerous factors related to tumor, prostate and the patient. Tumor factors include tumor volume, localization, growth rate and aggressiveness. Prostate factors include prostate volume, the activity of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and PSA synthesis. Host factors include androgenic status and total blood volume. In this paper the basic physiology of PSA and a brief history of clinical use of PSA are presented. In addition, all the factors that are known to cause a wide range of PSA values in localized PCa are mentioned and analyzed. Moreover, the results of a theoretical mathematical model, which may partially explain the multiple relations between the mentioned factors and the PSA level, are shown.