1. Tumours of the urinary system - prostate and testicular cancer Flashcards
what is the most common cancer diagnosed in men
prostate
what is the % new cases in different age groups
<50 = 1% new cases >65 = 75% new cases <70 = 45% new cases
BUT these trends likely to change
what are some risk factors for prostate cancer
age - increasing
race/ethnicity - afro-caribbean men living in western countries
geography - NW europe, N america, caribbean, australia
family history - first degree realtive x2 risk, HPC1, BRCA1 & 2
what are the 4 different zones of the prostate
transition, central, peripheral, anterior fibromuscular stroma
in what zone is prostate cancer most likely to occur
peripheral zone
80% localised
how does prostate cancer present
mostly asymptomatic
how is prostate cancer diagnosed
through opportunistic PSA testing (NOT SCREENING)
diagnostic triad:
- PSA
digital rectal examination
- TRUS-guided prostate biopsies
what are some symptoms of local disease prostate cancer
weak stream, hesitancy, sensation of incomplete emptying, frequency, urgency, urge incontinence, UTI
what are some symptoms of locally invasive disease prostate cancer
haematuria, perineal and suprapubic pain, impotence, incontinence, loin pain, anuria resulting from obstruction of the ureters, renal failure symptoms, haemmospermia, rectal symptoms
how can metastatic prostate cancer present
distant mets: bone pain, sciatica, paraplegia from spinal cord compression, lymph node enlargement, lymphoedema, loin pain, anuria
widespread mets:
lethargy (due to anaemia, uraemia),
weight loss,
cachexia
along with screening, how do we avoid under-treatment of aggressive cancers
ad-hoc PSA testing
what is PSA
prostate specific antigen - also known as kallikrien serine protease
liquifies semen
produced by glands of the prostate - may leak into serum
what is the normal PSA serum range
0-4.0 micrograms/mL
what are the age related PSA ranges
Levels increase with age
< 50 years : 2.5 is upper limit
50-60 years : 3.5 is upper limit
60-70 years : 4.5 is upper limit
> 70 years : 6.5 is upper limit
what can cause elevations in PSA
- UTI
- chronic prostatitis
- instrumentation (e.g. catheterisation)
- physiological (e.g. ejaculation)
- recent urological procedure
- BPH
- prostate cancer
what is the half life of PSA
2.2 days
if a repeat PSA needed when would you recheck
3 weeks time (i.e. 8 half lives)
what are the probability of cancer at different levels of PSA
0-1.0: 5%
- 0-2.5: 15%
- 5–4.0: 25%
- 0-10: 40%
> 10: 70%
how are prostate cancers graded
using the Gleason grading system
pathologist grades cancer from 1-5 (well to poorly differentiated) and the most likely scores are summated to give the gleason SUM score
eg
3 (most common) + 4 (second most common, but can be the same number)
= 7
what are the %risk of death in 15 years with each gleason score
2-4 4-7%
5 6-11%
6 18-30%
7 42-70%
8-10 60-87%
what are the 4 stages of prostate cancer
Localised stage
Locally advanced stage
Metastatic stage
Hormone refractory stage
what examinations/ investigations can be done to aid staging
Digital rectal examination (local staging)
PSA
Transrectal US guided biopsies
CT (regional and distant staging)
MRI (local staging)
what is the treatment for localised prostate cancer
Watchful waiting
Radiotherapy
- External-beam
- Brachytherapy
Radical prostatectomy
- Open
- Laparoscopic
- Robotic
Others under investigation
- Cryotherapy
- Thermotherapy
what is the treatment for locally advanced prostate cancer
Watchful waiting
Hormone therapy followed by surgery
Hormone therapy followed by radiation
Hormone therapy alone
Intermitted hormone therapy (clinical research)