II. Epidemiology
- Histologic evidence of Prostate Cancer on autopsy
- Men over age 50 years: 30%
- Men over age 80 years: 70%
- Clinical Incidence
- Mortality
- Second leading cause of cancer death in men (Second to Lung Cancer)
- However, only 3% of men die of Prostate Cancer (35,250 deaths in 2024, U.S.)
III. Risk Factors
- Age (Incidental finding on Autopsy)
- Age 50 years: 30% incidence Prostate Cancer
- Age 60 years: 35% incidence Prostate Cancer
- Age 70 years: 40% incidence Prostate Cancer
- Age 80 years: 55% incidence Prostate Cancer
- Age over 90 years: 100% incidence Prostate Cancer
- Ethnicity
- Black Men: 64 per 100,000 (confers twice risk of caucasian men)
- Caucasian Men: 26 per 100,000 (confers twice risk of asian men)
- Lower risk ethnicity: Asian and hispanic
-
Family History (Relative Risk of Prostate Cancer)
- Consider genetic marker testing in strong Family History (e.g. BRCA1, BRCA2, Lynch Syndrome)
- First degree relative with Prostate Cancer: Relative Risk of 2.5 to 3
- Brother with Prostate Cancer before age 63: Relative Risk of 4
- Sister with Breast Cancer: Relative Risk of 2
- Other Family History that increases Prostate Cancer risk
- More than one first degree relative is affected
- Affected relative was under age 55 at diagnosis
-
Nutritional Supplements
- Vitamin E Supplementation (400 units/day)
- Prostate Cancer risk increases 1 new case in 625 men
- Klein (2011) JAMA 306:1549-56. [PubMed]
- Omega 3 Fatty Acid Supplementation
- Prostate Cancer increased risk in some studies (preliminary)
- Brasky (2013) J Natl Cancer Inst 105:1132 [PubMed]
- Brasky (2011) Am J Epidemiol 173(12): 1429–39 [PubMed]
- Vitamin E Supplementation (400 units/day)
- Factors not with additional cancer risk
- Ejaculation frequency not associated with cancer risk
- Leitzmann (2004) JAMA 291:1578-86 [PubMed]
IV. Screening
- See Prostate Specific Antigen
- Includes screening protocols, Shared Decision Making and PSA interpretation
- Indications
- No screening is recommended as of 2012 by AAFP and USPTF
- Other organizations (ACS, ACP, AUA) recommend offering screening via Shared Decision Making
- See Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) for Informed Consent scripting
- Timing (if screening is performed)
- Start screening (some recommend every other year)
- Normal risk: Starting at age 50 years old (ACP, ACS) or age 55 (AUA)
- High Risk: Starting at age 40 years old (AUA) or 45 years old (ACS)
- Examples: Black men, first degree relative with Prostate Cancer <65 years old
- Stop screening
- Stop screening by age 70 years old OR
- Less than 10 to 15 years Life Expectancy (ACS/AUA)
- See Charlson Comorbidity Index (CALE)
- Frequency of testing
- Every 1-2 years
- References
- Start screening (some recommend every other year)
- Testing
- Prostate Specific Antigen
- See Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)
- Recheck elevated PSA (>4 ng/ml) in 3 months
- Transient PSA increase (e.g. due to BPH, Prostatitis) will normalize on recheck in 25 to 40% of patients
- Antibiotics are not recommended for elevated PSA unless symptomatic Prostatitis is present
- Digital Rectal Exam (evaluate for asymmetry, nodularity)
- Findings
- Test Sensitivity: <60%
- Test Specificity: >83%
- Positive Predictive Value: <28%
- Summary: Poor efficacy with high False Positive and False Negative Rate
- Digital Rectal Exam may be predictive in those with elevated PSA level
- Nodule or irregularity on DRE is associated with Grading Group >=2 when PSA elevated
- Halpern (2018) J Urol 199(4):947-53 +PMID: 29061540 [PubMed]
- Findings
- Prostate Specific Antigen
- Additional Testing to consider on consistently elevated PSA (to further risk stratify to those who need biopsy)
- Multiparametric MRI (see below)
- PSA Kinetics
- Biomarkers
- Blood Biomarkers (e.g. 4Kscore, isoPSA, Proclarix)
- Urine Biomarkers (e.g. PCA3, MPS, SelectMDx)
- Farha (2022) Ther Adv Urol 14:17562872221103988 +PMID: 35719272 [PubMed]
- MyProstateScore (MPS)
- Prostate Cancer Risk Calculator
V. Imaging
-
Multiparametric MRI (mpMRI)
- Protocols are experimental in 2022 and are not wide spread
- Cost is estimated at <$500
- May assist in risk stratification of whether biopsy is indicated
- May assist in directing targeted biopsy
- Stabile (2020) Nat Rev Urol 17(1): 41-61 [PubMed]
VI. Diagnosis
- Transrectal Ultrasonography-guided Prostate biopsy
- Prostate Biopsy indications
- PSA >4 ng/ml or
- PSA 2.5 to 4.0 ng/ml and Prostate Cancer Risk Factor or
- Free PSA <8% of total PSA or
- Rapid PSA increase in one year
- Baseline PSA <4 ng/ml and PSA increase by more than 0.35 ng/ml in last year or
- Baseline PSA 4-10 ng/ml and PSA increase by more than 0.75 ng/ml in last year
- Biopsy cores (12 cores are standard)
- Twelve cores are significantly more sensitive than 6 without increased complication risk
- However, even 12 cores sample only 1% of the Prostate, and 20% False Negative Rate
- Eichler (2006) J Urol 175(5): 1605-12 [PubMed]
- Prostate Biopsy indications
VII. Classification
- See Prostate Cancer Staging (TNM)
- See Prostate Cancer Histologic grading (Gleason Score)
VIII. Complications: Metastasis
- Spine Metastasis (90% of Prostate Cancer metastasis)
- Involves Vertebral Column in 85% of cases
- Most often affects Lumbar Spine
- Identified 19 months from initial diagnosis
- Recurrence is common (45% risk within 2 years)
-
Lung Metastasis (50% of Prostate Cancer metastasis)
- Identified 35 months from initial diagnosis
- Liver Metastasis (25% of Prostate Cancer metastasis)
- Brain Metastasis (rare)
- Identified 60 months from initial diagnosis
- Poor prognosis (average survival 7.6 months)
- References
IX. Management
X. Prevention: Possibly Protective Factors
- Exercise (walking)
- Soy Protein
- Flaxseeds (Phytoestrogens)
- Lycopones (tomatoes)
- Selenium
- Green Tea
- Vitamin D Supplementation
- Calcium Supplementation
- Garlic
- PC-SPES
- Grape seed extract
- Zinc