How is prostate-specific antigen (PSA) utilized in managing prostate cancer?

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) serves an essential role in the management of prostate cancer primarily as a tumor marker for screening and monitoring the disease. PSA is a protein produced by both normal and malignant cells of the prostate gland, and its levels can be elevated in patients with prostate cancer.

Its utility in screening is based on measuring PSA levels to identify men at higher risk of harboring prostate cancer, allowing for earlier intervention when necessary. Furthermore, once a diagnosis is made, PSA levels are regularly monitored to assess the effectiveness of treatments and detect any recurrence of the disease. An increase in PSA levels after treatment may indicate that cancer is present again.

This emphasizes its role not as a definitive treatment or a standalone diagnostic tool—hence, it does not replace the need for biopsies when cancer is suspected. Additionally, while PSA levels can provide valuable information regarding disease status, they are not definitive indicators of cure, as there are various factors that can influence PSA levels, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostatitis. Thus, the correct answer recognizes the significance of PSA as a marker in both screening and ongoing monitoring of prostate cancer rather than a definitive treatment option or curative indicator.