INDS 211 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Prostate Cancer, Androgen Receptor, Prostatitis

• School: McGill University
• Department: Interndisciplinary Studies
• Course: INDS 211
• Professor: Helene Weibel

Document Summary

Epidemiology: most common cancer in men: accounts for 9% of cancer deaths, wide range of clinical behaviours, so controversy surrounding screening, 10% lethal, 90% is indolent. However, because frequency is so high, it remains a major cause of mortality and before psa, patients used to present with advanced cancer. Now we detect at very early stage (some say too early), which has resulted in significant drop in mortality over the last 20 years (earlier detection and more aggressive treatment). Risk factors: age: more common 50 yrs, race: african-american > caucasian > asian, family history, enviro factors not well understood: maybe increased risk: red meat, fat; decreased: lycopene, selenium, soy, Vit d: hormonal: driven by testosterone, but not initiated by testosterone!! Prostate specific antigen (psa) serum testing: def: major tool for screening and monitoring post-treatment. Post surgery, the psa level should drop to zero.