Download Advanced prostate cancer

PSA in prostate cancer;
what patients need to know
Glossary of scientific terms
http://www.goodhealthagency.com
•
Active surveillance is a treatment plan that involves closely watching
a patient’s condition but not giving any treatment unless there are changes
in test results that show the condition is getting worse. Active surveillance
may be used to avoid or delay the need for treatments such as radiation
therapy or surgery, which can cause side effects or other problems. During
active surveillance, certain exams and tests are done on a regular
schedule. It may be used in the treatment of certain types of cancer, such
as prostate cancer, urethral cancer, and intraocular (eye) melanoma. It is a
type of expectant management.
http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=616060
•
Advanced prostate cancer is cancer that has spread from the
prostate to other parts of the body, most commonly the bones. It is also
called metastatic prostate cancer.
http://prostatecanceruk.org/information/prostate-cancer/advanced-prostatecancer
•
ALSYMPCA trial was a Phase III Study of Alpharadin (Radium-223) in
Patients With Symptomatic Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer With
Skeletal Metastases. http://www.europa-uomo.org/docs/ALSYMPCA-III.pdf
•
Biomarker is a biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or
tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or of a condition or
disease. A biomarker may be used to see how well the body responds to a
treatment for a disease or condition. Also called molecular marker and
signature molecule. http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?cdrid=45618
•
Blinded study is a type of study in which the patients (single-blinded)
or the patients and their doctors (double-blinded) do not know which drug or
treatment is being given. The opposite of a blinded study is an open label
study. http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=285982
•
Castrate-resistant prostate cancer is a type of Prostate cancer that
keeps growing even when the amount of testosterone in the body is
reduced to very low levels. Many early-stage prostate cancers need normal
levels of testosterone to grow, but castrate-resistant prostate cancers do
not. Also called CRPC. http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=753525
•
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cells that have shed into the
vasculature from a primary tumor and circulate in the bloodstream. CTCs
thus constitute seeds for subsequent growth of additional tumors
(metastasis) in vital distant organs, triggering a mechanism that is
responsible for the vast majority of cancer-related deaths.
http://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(06)01414-0
•
Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) is a digital (finger) rectal
examination is done to check for problems with organs or other structures in
the pelvis and lower belly. During the examination, the doctor gently puts a
lubricated, gloved finger of one hand into the rectum. He or she may use
the other hand to press on the lower belly or pelvic area.
http://www.webmd.com/colorectal-cancer/digital-rectal-examination-dre
•
Early-stage cancer describes cancer that is early in its growth, and
may not have spread to other parts of the body. What is called early stage
may differ between cancer types.
http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=561398
•
Hormonal therapy is a treatment that adds, blocks, or removes
hormones. For certain conditions (such as diabetes or menopause),
hormones are given to adjust low hormone levels. To slow or stop the
growth of certain cancers (such as prostate and breast cancer), synthetic
hormones or other drugs may be given to block the body’s natural
hormones. Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the gland that makes a
certain hormone. Also called endocrine therapy, hormone therapy, and
hormone treatment. http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=46367
•
LDH refers to one of a group of enzymes found in the blood and other
body tissues, and involved in energy production in cells. An increased
amount in the blood may be a sign of tissue damage and some types of
cancer or other diseases. Also called lactate dehydrogenase and lactic acid
dehydrogenase. http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=354465
•
Locally advanced cancer refers to cancer that has spread from
where it started to nearby tissue or lymph nodes.
http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=45955
•
Malignant tumors are tumors that are capable of spreading by
invasion and metastasis. By definition, the term "cancer" applies only to
malignant tumours.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/understandingcancer/cancer/page9
•
Metastatic prostate cancer (see advanced prostate cancer)
•
Performance status is a measure of how well a patient is able to
perform ordinary tasks and carry out daily activities.
http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=44174
•
Progression, in medicine, the course of a disease, such as cancer, as
it becomes worse or spreads in the body.
http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=285982
•
PSA is a protein made by the prostate gland and found in the blood.
PSA blood levels may be higher than normal in men who have prostate
cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or infection or inflammation of
the prostate gland. Also called prostate-specific antigen.
http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=44867
•
Radical prostatectomy is a surgery to remove the entire prostate and
some of the tissue around it. Nearby lymph nodes may also be removed. In
a radical retropubic prostatectomy, an incision (cut) is made in the wall of
the lower abdomen. In a radical perineal prostatectomy, an incision (cut) is
made in the perineum (the area between the anus and scrotum). In a
laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, several small incisions (cuts) are made
in the wall of the abdomen. A laparoscope (a thin, tube-like instrument with
a light and lens for viewing) is inserted through one opening to guide the
surgery. Surgical instruments are inserted through the other openings to do
the surgery. http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=46549
•
Radiotherapy is the use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma
rays, neutrons, protons, and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink
tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (externalbeam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in
the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy). Systemic
radiotherapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled
monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the
body. Also called irradiation and radiation therapy.
http://www.cancer.gov/dictionary?CdrID=44295
•
The IMPACT study was a Phase 3 randomized, double-blind,
multicenter, controlled study in 512 men with asymptomatic or minimally
symptomatic metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
http://www.provengehcp.com/ProvengeEfficacy/Phase3Trial.aspx
This program has been supported by an educational grant by Bayer
Consumer Care AG.