Prostate Cancer Flashcards
What are the functions of the prostate
• produces a fluid which keeps the semen healthy
• converts testosterone to dihydrotestoterone (active form)
This type is cancer is highly hormone dependent
Growth of prostate tumours are dependent on which receptors
Androgen receptors
Causes
• increase in age
• African or Asian
• high BMI
• smoking
• genes
• family hx
Sighs and symptoms
• bone pain
• back pain
• erectile dysfunction
• blood in urine
• urinary frequency
• trouble with stopping and starting
• poor urine flow
• weight loss - very rare
Tests and investigations
• x ray of chest and pelvis
• psa (prostate specific antigen)
• FBC
• TRUS (transrectal ultrasound) + needle biopsy
Early stages of the cancer (localised) do not require pharmacological approaches, what therapies or management is used
Surveillance
Radical therapy
• prostocectomy
• external beam therapy
• branchytherapy
Locally advanced or metastatic treatment
Gonadatroptin releaseing hormone agonist
Moa - binds to the GnRH, with printed release of FSH and LH, creating a surge, which increases sex hormones. Then after continuous administration the FSH and LH levels fall
An example of this drug and it’s monitoring requirements
Leuprorelin acetate IV
Monitoring - LFT and prostate specific antigen serum levels
ADRS of this drug
Bone pain
Decrease appetite
Breast abnormalities
Most cancers of the prostate are?
Adenocarcinomas
What might increase prostate antigen levels even after treatment
Androgen receptor mutations
Which GnRH agonist therapy, the initial surge can cause bone pain. Which other class of medicine can be used to counteract this
Androgen deprivation therapy - bicalutamide
