# Protein-specific antigen (PSA) analysis
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is produced for the ejaculate, where it liquifies the semen in the seminal coagulum and allows sperm to swim freely (Balk et.al. 2003). PSA is present in small quantities in the serum of men with healthy prostates, but is often elevated in the presence of prostate cancer or other prostate disorders (Catalona et.al. 1994).
This script creates a scatter plot of PSA v. Date.
- 2012-04-02 High PSA
- 2013-02-11 Biopsy
- 2013-03-08 Prostate cancer confirmed
- 2013-06-11 Radical prostatectomy
- 2013-09-09 Begin external beam radiation therapy five times per week, six weeks
- 2013-11-12 Cancer-free
- 2021-11-11 High PSA
- 2022-02-07 Stage IV metastatic prostate cancer confirmed
- 2022-02-17 Begin androgen deprivation therapy, every six months
- 2022-02-25 Begin androgen receptor inhibitor therapy, daily
- 2022-05-25 Begin chemotherapy, every three weeks, six times
- 2022-05-25 Begin bone strengthening therapy, every four weeks
- 2022-12-01 Responding well to treatment, cancer controlled, continuing androgen deprivation and receptor inhibitor therapies
Balk, S.P. Y.J. Ko, and G.J. Bubley. "Biology of prosate-specific antigen." Journal of Clinical Oncology 21 (January 2003), no. 2: 383-91. PMID 12525533 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12525533). doi:10.1200/JCO.2003.02.083 (https://doi.org/10.1200 2FJCO.2003.02.083).
Catalona, W.J., J.P. Richie, F.R. Ahmann, M.A. Hudson, P.T. Scardino, R.C. Flanigan, J.B. deKernion, T.L. Ratliff, L.R. Kavoussi, and B.L. Dalkin. "Comparison of digital rectal examination and serum prostate specific antigen in the early detection of prostate cancer: results of a multicenter clinical trial of 6,630 mean." The Journal of Urology 151 (May 1994), no. 5: 1283-90. PMID 7512659 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7512659).