Question 1

What is the Meaning of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen?

Accepted Answer

Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen, or PSMA, is a glycoprotein found predominantly on the surface of prostate cells. Its expression is significantly elevated in prostate cancer cells, particularly in higher-grade and metastatic disease, making it a crucial target in oncology.

Question 2

What is the Context of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen?

Accepted Answer

Within the human body, PSMA is present in various tissues at low levels, including the small intestine, kidneys, and salivary glands. However, its physiological role is most prominent in the prostate gland, where it functions as a transmembrane protein with enzymatic activity, involved in folate metabolism and neuropeptide processing.

Question 3

What is the Significance of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen?

Accepted Answer

The clinical significance of PSMA lies in its utility as a highly specific biomarker and therapeutic target for prostate cancer. Its overexpression in malignant prostate cells allows for precise imaging of cancerous lesions, even at low volumes, and enables targeted radionuclide therapies, thereby guiding clinical decisions and improving patient management.

Question 4

What is the Mechanism of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen?

Accepted Answer

PSMA functions as a glutamate carboxypeptidase II, an enzyme that cleaves N-acetylaspartylglutamate into N-acetylaspartate and glutamate. This enzymatic activity occurs on the extracellular surface of the cell membrane. Upon binding to specific ligands, PSMA can undergo internalization, a process that is leveraged for diagnostic imaging and therapeutic delivery of PSMA-targeted agents directly into prostate cancer cells.

Question 5

What is the Application of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen?

Accepted Answer

In clinical practice, PSMA is primarily utilized for advanced prostate cancer imaging through Positron Emission Tomography, commonly referred to as PSMA PET scans. These scans provide superior detection rates for recurrent or metastatic disease compared to conventional imaging modalities. Furthermore, PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy, such as with Lutetium-177-PSMA, offers a precise treatment option for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, delivering radiation directly to tumor cells while sparing healthy tissues.

Question 6

What is the Metric of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen?

Accepted Answer

The presence and activity of PSMA are assessed primarily through imaging techniques that quantify the uptake of PSMA-targeting radiotracers. PSMA PET scan results are interpreted by nuclear medicine physicians who evaluate the intensity and distribution of tracer accumulation within tissues, indicating the presence and extent of PSMA-expressing prostate cancer. Clinical response to PSMA-targeted therapies is monitored through serial imaging and changes in serum PSA levels.

Question 7

What is the Risk of Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen?

Accepted Answer

While PSMA-targeted diagnostics and therapies are generally well-tolerated, potential risks exist. For PSMA PET imaging, minor risks include allergic reactions to the tracer or radiation exposure, though minimal. With PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy, potential side effects can include transient bone marrow suppression, dry mouth due to salivary gland uptake, and kidney toxicity, necessitating careful patient selection and monitoring to mitigate adverse outcomes.

Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen

Meaning

Context

Significance

Mechanism

Application

Metric

Risk

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