What is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer results from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the prostate gland, a gland near the base of the penis that produces part of the fluid in semen. Prostate cancer is common, but not always dangerous. When cells in the prostate become cancerous (malignant), they initially form small islands of cancer that are confined to the prostate. This localized form of cancer affects about one-third of men as they grow older. In many cases, it takes years, or even decades, for this limited cancer to grow beyond the prostate gland's tough outer capsule. If cancer grows beyond the prostate gland, it may invade surrounding parts of the bladder and urethra, causing problems with urination. The cancer also may spread to nearby lymph nodes, or to the bones, liver or rectum. For information on symptoms, diagnosis, and prevention click here.

See also: Prostate Cancer: Treat or wait? and Cancer Overview.

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Research News

Featuring Harvard Medical School and Affiliated Hospitals

Consistent PSA Screening Results in Better Prognosis

Gene Variants Associated with Prostate Cancer Risk.

Hormone therapy can increase curability of prostate cancer.

Microchip-based device can detect rare tumor cells

Increase Found in PSA Testing Among Younger Men, Black Men, and the Insured.

"Mismatched" treatment more common than expected.

Hormone Therapy associated with increase risk of cardiovascular death.

Additional component to prostate cancer score improves test accuracy.

Significant Risk Factors Identified may increase risk of cardiovascular disease death in older men.

Androgen Deprivation Therapy Clustered in a single region of the human genome.

Hair-Loss Drug Impedes detection of prostate cancer.

Genetic Risk Factor Found for Prostate Cancer Highest impact in younger African Americans.

A treatment for prostate cancer increases risk of diabetes and heart disease.

PSA Levels as Indicators Failure of PSA levels to fall in prostate cancer patients may lead to poor outcomes.

Alternative Hormone-blocker Reduces side effects in prostate cancer patients.

Common Screening Test May be Missing Majority of Prostate Cancers Study finds 82% of prostate cancers may be missed with PSA test.

Minimally Invasive Treatment Generates similar five-year PSA results as traditional techniques.

>More Research News

Health & Science Articles

From the Harvard Community

Eating for prostate health.

Increase found in prostate-specific antigen testing.

Moderate Red Wine Consumption reduces risk.

PSA Rise Signals High Death Risk More information on PSA levels as an indicator of prostate cancer progression.

Identifying Which Tumors Will Spread
A pattern of gene activity seems to predict whether cancer will return after it is first treated. The ominous pattern shows up in many common types of cancer, including lung, breast, prostate, and brain.

>More HU Gazette on Prostate Cancer

Scientific Reports

From HMS Faculty Newsletter Focus

Familiar Antibiotic Slows Prostate Cancer Growth Though Not Fit for Use in Human Disease, Drug Points Toward Targeted Therapy.

Studies Chip Away at Sex Hormone Roles in Prostate and Breast Cancers Their results should lead to new ways of manipulating receptor activity and shutting down cancer genes while leaving normal genes intact.

Prostate Tumor Chemistry Reveals Early Disease Profiling Metabolites Through Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Could Signal Cancer Course.

Regulator of Protein Degradation Emerges as Anticancer Target. HMS researchers have identified a protease that elevates cellular Fatty Acid Synthase.

>More Science Reports