Who discovered prostate-specific antigen? disputed

Positions

1. Ablin, 1970

   Richard Ablin reported precipitation antigens in the prostate in 1969 to 1970 and is credited with discovering a prostate antigen; he later became a strong critic of routine PSA screening.

   Sources

   1. Wikipedia: Richard J. Ablin Secondary
   2. Wikipedia: Prostate-specific antigen Secondary

2. Hara, 1971

   Mitsuwo Hara described gamma-seminoprotein in semen in 1971.

   Sources

   1. Wikipedia: Prostate-specific antigen Secondary

3. Wang, 1979

   Wang purified the prostate antigen from prostate tissue in 1979; this is the protein used clinically, measured in serum from 1980 and sold as a commercial test from 1986.

   Sources

   1. Wikipedia: Prostate-specific antigen Secondary

Evidence

A chain of reports from 1969 to 1980 (Ablin, Hara, Li and Beling, Sensabaugh, Wang, Papsidero) describes related proteins from semen and prostate. The dates for the earlier work of Flocks are garbled in the one source that gives them.

Current standing

Disputed. The clinical assay descends from Wang's purified protein and its commercial development; Ablin's 1970 antigen is a claimed precursor.

All sources