Early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer Journal Article


Authors: Eastham, J. A.; Scardino, P. T.
Article Title: Early diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer
Abstract: Prostate cancer represents a significant challenge to society and to physicians. It is a remarkably prevalent tumor, perhaps the most common cancer in the world in its histologic manifestation. In its clinically apparent form, its behavior is notably heterogeneous. Some patients live with a prostate cancer that remains stable for decades without treatment. In others, the cancer grows aggressively, responds poorly to therapy, and causes morbidity and even mortality within a few years. The median loss of life expectancy for men diagnosed with prostate cancer has been estimated at 9 years. Important progress has been made in the past 2 decades in the treatment of prostate cancer. Further advances will be required for a more accurate characterization of the primary tumor in each individual patient to more appropriately tailored treatment - whether conservative or aggressive, operation or radiation - more accurately to the nature of the individual cancer. Imaging modalities, in particular, must be improved if we are to have better, noninvasive ways to identify the presence of a cancer and to define its volume, location, and extent. Substantial progress against this disease will require major breakthroughs in our understanding of the etiology and biology of prostate cancer, the development of effective chemopreventive agents, more accurate ways to assess the biologic potential of the tumor, and more effective systemic agents to treat metastatic cancer.
Keywords: androgen; disease course; review; treatment planning; cancer adjuvant therapy; cancer staging; antineoplastic agent; cancer diagnosis; neoplasm staging; prostate specific antigen; diagnostic procedure; cancer prevention; metastasis; cancer screening; tumor biopsy; diagnostic imaging; cancer therapy; risk assessment; prostate cancer; postoperative complication; prostate-specific antigen; prostatic neoplasms; early diagnosis; prostatectomy; brachytherapy; hormonal therapy; cancer epidemiology; physical examination; radiotherapy, conformal; transrectal ultrasonography; impotence; acid phosphatase; humans; prognosis; human; male
Journal Title: Disease-a-Month
Volume: 47
Issue: 9
ISSN: 0011-5029
Publisher: Mosby Elsevier  
Date Published: 2001-09-01
Start Page: 421
End Page: 459
Language: English
PUBMED: 11584249
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI: 10.1067/mda.2001.119016
DOI/URL:
Notes: Export Date: 21 May 2015 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Peter T Scardino
    671 Scardino
  2. James Eastham
    540 Eastham