The prognosis of prostate cancer or the probability of relapse following primary therapy depends on the clinical stage of the tumor, Gleason score (histologic grade) and the PSA level before the primary treatment. The other important independent prognostic factors include the pathologic stage of the tumor, invasion of capsule, seminal vesicle involvement, positive surgical margins and lymph node metastases. The prognosis in prostate cancer is poor in :

• clinical stage above T2
• high PSA level at diagnosis
• biopsy Gleason score of 8 to 10
• PSA velocity of more than 2 ng/mL/year

continue reading Prostate Cancer Prognosis and Survival Rate

Advanced or Metastatic Prostate Cancer

In advanced prostate cancer limited to local spread, androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in combination with radiation therapy are the standard measures. ADT offers a 10-year survival in 80% of men with microscopic lymph node spread. This therapy is also used for low, intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer and is discussed further under Prostate Cancer Treatments and Prostate Cancer Treatment Options.

ADT is the mainstay of treatment in the newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer patients. It can result in symptomatic improvement and disease regression in the majority of patients. The method adopted to produce androgen deprivation can vary between various centers. It can be achieved by surgical removal of testes (orchiectomy),  medically with luteinizing hormone releasing hormone LHRH agonists, or use of anti-androgens.

continue reading Treating Advanced, Metastatic, Hormone-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer patients with high risk features of lymph node spread and micrometastatic disease are generally treated with more aggressive local therapy often in combination with long- term androgen deprivation therapy.  Some patients who are at extremely high risk of micrometastatic disease, treatment with systemic therapy alone is often considered without local therapy. For information on treating early stage prostate cancer, refer to the article on Prostate Cancer Treatments.

continue reading Prostate Cancer Treatment Options for High Risk and Recurrence

Prostate cancer patients with limited disease are grouped into low-risk, intermediate-risk and high risk for metastatic disease based on the clinical stage, Gleason score and PSA values. Read more on prostate cancer staging.

The treatment plan in limited disease is based on the risk.

• Low-risk group includes stage T1 or T2, Gleason score less than 7 and PSA values less than 10 ng/mL.
• Intermediate risk group is usually in stage T2, Gleason score of 7 and PSA value between 10 to 20 ng/mL.
• High risk group includes stage T3, has a Gleason score greater than 7 and PSA greater than 20 ng/mL.

continue reading Prostate Cancer Treatments and Complications (Side Effects)

Pathologically adenocarcinomas account for more than 95% of prostate cancers. Almost 70% of the prostate cancer arise from the peripheral zone of the prostate gland and the remaining prostate cancers arise from the transition zone. Often those arising from the peripheral zone are more aggressive while those from the transition zone are less aggressive. The pathologic evaluation of biopsied prostate tissue is traditionally done using Gleason Scoring. The microscopic evaluation of prostate tissue with careful histologic grading is very important factor in assessing the outcomes in prostatic cancer.

continue reading Prostate Cancer Staging, Gleason Scores and Different Stages