RESUMO
PSA was first identified in the 1960s. Some controversy exist as to who should be credited with its discovery as different groups, simultaneously, isolated the same protein but gave it a different name. PSA was firstly approved by FDA in 1986 as a test to aid the management of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. In 1994, it was approved by the FDA as a diagnostic tool and up to date its beneficial role as a screening test is largely unknown. The results of the PLCO and ERSPC trials are awaited. Increasing interest is also emerging on the use of PSA as a tool in the management of BPH. Recently some embryonic data on the use of other novel markers such as EPCA and prostasomes is emerging and the data on PCA3 as a diagnostic tool for prostate cancer is maturing.
