The PSMA gene is located on the short arm of chromosome 11 in a region that is not commonly deleted in prostate cancer. Schematic of prostate-specific membrane antigen. PSMA has known enzymatic activities and acts as a glutamate-preferring carboxypeptidase.

What is the difference between PSMA and PSA?

PSA values are useful in the clinical diagnosis and staging of prostate cancer patients, and generally fall to low values in response to effective treatment, e.g., surgery, hormones, radiation, chemotherapy. PSMA values are not related to clinical stage but if elevated can fall in response to effective treatments.

What is the function of PSMA?

PSMA is a unique cell surface marker, negatively regulated by androgen and extensively used for imaging of hormone refractory carcinomas and metastatic foci. PSMA is a carboxypeptidase with two important enzymatic functions, namely, folate hydrolase and NAALADase.