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: Cancer Overview, Breast Cancer
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Research News
Featuring Harvard Medical School and Affiliated Hospitals
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 |
Research Stories
From the Harvard University Gazette
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
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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
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Dana Farber/ Harvard Cancer Center
