PSA is an abbreviation for a protein in the blood called Prostate Specific Antigen. It is:

• Secreted by prostate epithelial cells
• Elevated in patients with prostate cancer
• Used as a marker for prostate cancer
• Regulated by androgen (e.g., testosterone)

Why are we interested in the regulation of PSA gene expression?

• Prostate cancer progresses from androgen-dependent to androgen-independent
• tumours grow in the presence of androgen and regress in the absence of androgen
• PSA levels follow the same trend