Cancer of the prostate is the most commonly diagnosed neoplasm in men in the United States, after skin cancer. Many controversies exist regarding the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer, especially in the areas of screening and the choice of therapy once a diagnosis is made. The extraordinary biologic heterogeneity that characterizes this disease presents issues unique to the management of prostate cancer. Thus, one patient may have a low-grade cancer diagnosed late in life and unlikely to have any impact on the quality or length of his life, whereas a younger man with a high-grade lesion may present with advanced disease and die of progressive disease within 5 years. Distinguishing between such patients remains a high priority for continued research. In addition, new insights into the pathogenesis of prostate cancer are actively being sought, which may ultimately lead to better therapies and perhaps even strategies for prevention.

Contents

• Epidemiology and Risk Factors
• Biology of Prostate Cancer
• Screening for Prostate Cancer
• Diagnosis and Staging of Prostate Cancer
• Prognostic Factors in Localized Prostate Cancer
• Management of Localized Prostate Cancer
• Radiation Therapy
• Comparison of Treatment Options for Localized Prostate Cancer
• Management of Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer
• Management of Disseminated Cancer
• Hormone-refractory Prostate Cancer
• New Approaches to Prostate Cancer Therapy
• References