Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen
Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA, FOLH1) is a type II transmembrane glycoprotein with folate hydrolase and carboxypeptidase activity, releasing glutamate from folate poly-gamma-glutamates and neuropeptides. Although named for the prostate, PSMA is strongly and nearly uniformly expressed in prostate adenocarcinoma, with intensity increasing in high-grade, metastatic, and castration-resistant disease; low expression also occurs in kidney, small intestine, and salivary gland tissue and in tumor neovasculature. This pattern established PSMA as the leading prostate cancer target for PET imaging ligands and for radioligand therapy with lutetium-177-PSMA-617, alongside antibody and CAR-T programs.
