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Gleason Score 7 Prostate Cancer Treatment Options

Treatment Options Under Clinical Evaluation

Treatment Strategies for Gleason 3 4=7 vs. 4 3=7 | Ask a Prostate Cancer Expert, Mark Scholz, MD

Treatment options under clinical evaluation for patients with prostate cancer include the following:

  • Bicalutamide.
  • Cryosurgery

    Cryosurgery, or cryotherapy, is under evaluation for the treatment of localized prostate cancer. It is a surgical technique that involves destruction of prostate cancer cells by intermittent freezing of the prostate with cryoprobes, followed by thawing. There is limited evidence regarding its efficacy and safety compared with standard prostatectomy and radiation therapy, and the technique is evolving in an attempt to reduce local toxicity and normal tissue damage. The quality of evidence on efficacy is low, currently limited to case series of relatively small size, short follow-up, and surrogate outcomes of efficacy.

    Serious toxic effects associated with cryosurgery include bladder outlet injury, urinary incontinence, sexual impotence, and rectal injury. Impotence is common, ranging from about 47% to 100%.

    The frequency of other side effects and the probability of cancer control at 5 years’ follow-up have varied among reporting centers, and series are small compared with surgery and radiation therapy. Other major complications include urethral sloughing, urinary fistula or stricture, and bladder neck obstruction.

    Proton-beam therapy

    Vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy using a photosensitizing agent has been tested in men with low-risk prostate cancer.

    Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy

    The role of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy is not established.

    What Are The Stages Of Prostate Cancer

    Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in males, only behind skin cancer. In 2018 alone, nearly

    Trusted Source new cases of prostate cancer were reported worldwide.

    Prostate cancer tends to progress slowly and less aggressively than many other types of cancer. If you detect prostate cancer in the early stages, theres a very high chance of survival. In the United States, the 5-year survival rate with prostate cancer is close to .

    Prostate cancer can be classified into four different stages, depending on how advanced it is.

    In the first stage, the tumor is only affecting your prostate and hasnt spread to other tissues. At stage 4, the tumor has spread to tissue beyond the prostate and possibly to distant parts of your body.

    In this article, we take a deeper look at the different stages of prostate cancer. We also break down all the terminology youll need to understand about these stages.

    Dropping Psa Score With Gleason Score Of 7

    How can a PSA drop with a Gleason score of 7? The biopsy showed that the cancer had attacked the nerves. Should I consider monitor with this situation?

    Hi Cayandray,Good question regarding the relationship between PSA and Gleason score. Im tagging fellow members to see what they may add this conversation.

    You may also be interested in joining these discussions on Connect:

    prostate cancer treatment choices Prostate cancer treated with Leuprolide Why did you choose brachytherapy for prostate cancer

    Have you had any treatment for prostate cancer or have been on active surveillance ?

    Hi Cayandray,Good question regarding the relationship between PSA and Gleason score. Im tagging fellow members to see what they may add this conversation.

    You may also be interested in joining these discussions on Connect:

    prostate cancer treatment choices Prostate cancer treated with Leuprolide Why did you choose brachytherapy for prostate cancer

    Have you had any treatment for prostate cancer or have been on active surveillance ?

    You may also be interested in joining these discussions on Connect:

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    Ajcc Stage Groupings And Tnm Definitions

    The AJCC has designated staging by TNM classification.

    Table 1. Definition of Histologic Grade Groupa

    Grade Group Gleason Score Gleason Pattern
    aAdapted from AJCC: Prostate. In: Amin MB, Edge SB, Greene FL, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2017, pp. 71526.
    1
    4+4, 3+5, or 5+3
    5 4+5, 5+4, or 5+5
    Table 2. Definitions of TNM Stage Ia

    Stage Gleason Score Gleason Pattern g Illustration
    T = primary tumor N = regional lymph nodes M = distant metastasis cT = clinical T PSA = prostate-specific antigen pT = pathological T.
    aAdapted from AJCC: Prostate. In: Amin MB, Edge SB, Greene FL, et al., eds.: AJCC Cancer Staging Manual. 8th ed. New York, NY: Springer, 2017, pp. 71526.
    The explanations for superscripts b through g are at the end of Table 5.
    I cT1ac, cT2a, N0, M0 cT1 = Clinically inapparent tumor that is not palpable. < 10
    cT1a = Tumor incidental histologic finding in 5% of tissue resected.
    cT1b = Tumor incidental histologic finding in > 5% of tissue resected.
    cT1c = Tumor identified by needle biopsy found in one or both sides, but not palpable.
    cT2 = Tumor is palpable and confined within prostate.
    cT2a = Tumor involves 1/2 of one side or less.
    N0 = No positive regional nodes.
    M0 = No distant metastasis.
    Gleason Score, 6 Gleason Pattern, 3+3 .
    N0 = No positive regional nodes.
    M0 = No distant metastasis.
    References

    How Is Stage Ii Prostate Cancer Treated

    Overview and Pharmacotherapy of Prostate Cancer (based on ...

    In stage II of prostate cancer, the cancer is small and is confined to the prostate gland and the growth and spread may be slow and it may never show symptoms. The course of action depends on the age of the patient and their overall health and if they can withstand the treatment. The following are the treatment methods generally preferred for stage I prostate treatment:

    Active surveillance:

    Because this cancer type grows very slowly, men may often not require any treatment immediately if not throughout their lifetime. Active surveillance is a method of monitoring the cancer closely regularly. PSA blood test, DRE , prostate biopsies may be done once in six months or so. If the results show signs of the cancer spreading, the treatment options are reviewed to eliminate the cancer.

    External beam radiation:

    It is a type of radiation therapy, a treatment method that involves use of high beams of X rays to kill cancerous cells. In external beam radiation therapy, also called EBRT, beams of radiation are focused on the prostate gland from a machine outside the body and it is used to treat the early stages of cancer.Read more about radiation therapy of prostate cancer here.

    Brachytherapy:

    Radical prostatectomy:

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    What Does It Mean When There Are Different Core Samples With Different Gleason Scores

    Cores may be samples from different areas of the same tumor or different tumors in the prostate. Because the grade may vary within the same tumor or between different tumors, different samples taken from your prostate may have different Gleason scores. Typically, the highest Gleason score will be the one used by your doctor for predicting your prognosis and deciding on treatment options.

    Immediate Versus Deferred Hormonal Therapy

    Refer to the Treatment Option Overview for Prostate Cancer section for information on the use of immediate hormonal therapy plus radiation in the setting of locally recurrent prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.

    PSA is often used to monitor patients after initial therapy with curative intent, and elevated or rising PSA is a common trigger for additional therapy even in asymptomatic men. Despite how common the situation is, it is not clear whether additional treatments given because of rising PSA in asymptomatic men with prostate cancer increase OS. The quality of evidence is limited.

  • After radical prostatectomy, detectable PSA levels identify patients at elevated risk of local treatment failure or metastatic disease however, a substantial proportion of patients with elevated or rising PSA levels after initial therapy with curative intent may remain clinically free of symptoms for extended periods. In a retrospective analysis of nearly 2,000 men who had undergone radical prostatectomy with curative intent and who were followed for a mean of 5.3 years, 315 men demonstrated an abnormal PSA of 0.2 ng/mL or higher, which is evidence of biochemical recurrence.
  • Of these 315 men, 103 men developed clinical evidence of recurrence.
  • The median time to development of clinical metastasis after biochemical recurrence was 8 years.
  • After the men developed metastatic disease, the median time to death was an additional 5 years.
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    Initial Treatment Of Prostate Cancer By Stage

    The stage of your cancer is one of the most important factors in choosing the best way to treat it. Prostate cancer is staged based on the extent of the cancer and the PSA level and Gleason score when it is first diagnosed.

    For prostate cancers that haven’t spread , doctors also use risk groups to help determine treatment options. Risk groups range from very low risk to very high risk, with lower risk group cancers having a smaller chance of growing and spreading compared to those in higher risk groups.

    Other factors, such as your age, overall health, life expectancy, and personal preferences are also taken into account when looking at treatment options. In fact, many doctors determine a mans possible treatment options based not just on the stage, but on the risk of cancer coming back after the initial treatment and on the mans life expectancy.

    You might want to ask your doctor what factors he or she is considering when discussing your treatment options. Some doctors might recommend options that are different from those listed here.

    Stage 2 Prostate Cancer

    Option for Gleason 7 or intermediate risk prostate cancer? | Mark Scholz #1

    In stage 2, the tumor is still confined to your prostate and hasnt spread to lymph nodes or other parts of your body. A doctor may or may not be able to feel the tumor during a prostate exam, and it may appear on ultrasound imaging. The survival rate is still near 100 percent.

    The PSA score for stage 2 is less than 20 ng/mL.

    Stage 2 cancer is further divided into three phases depending on the grade group and Gleason scores:

    • Grade group: 1
    • Gleason score: 6 or less

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    What Have Researchers Found About How These Treatments Compare With Each Other

    Researchers found that for some men:

    • The risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body is much lower with surgery to remove the prostate gland than with watchful waiting.
    • Surgery to remove the prostate gland appears to increase the chance of surviving the cancer more than external-beam radiation therapy.
    • A combination of 3D-CRT and hormone therapy appears to increase the chance of surviving the cancer more than 3D-CRT alone.

    Note

    Research is only one source that helps guide doctors when they treat localized prostate cancer. Doctors also rely on their experience and on guidelines for treatment based on evidence and recommendations by experts.

    When thinking about what treatment may be best for you, your doctor will consider several things, including:

    • Your age
    • Other health problems you may have
    • How long you are expected to live
    • Your preferences

    Your doctor will also discuss possible side effects to help you decide about treatment. Talk with your doctor about your options and the trade-offs between possible benefits and side effects. Usually, you have time to think about your options before making a decision.

    Note

    Standard Treatment Options For Stage Iii Prostate Cancer

    Standard treatment options for patients with stage III prostate cancer include the following:

  • Watchful waiting or active surveillance/active monitoring.
  • External-beam radiation therapy with or without hormonal therapy

    EBRT alone, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist, or orchiectomy, in addition to EBRT, should be considered. Definitive radiation therapy should be delayed until 4 to 6 weeks after transurethral resection to reduce the incidence of stricture.

    Hormonal therapy should be considered in conjunction with radiation therapy especially in men who do not have underlying moderate or severe comorbidities. Several studies have investigated its utility in patients with locally advanced disease.

    Evidence :

  • Although patients in the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group RTOG-9413 trial showed a 15% estimated risk of lymph node involvement and received whole-pelvic radiation therapy compared with prostate-only radiation therapy, overall survival and PSA failure rates were not significantly different.
  • In a randomized trial, 875 men with locally advanced nonmetastatic prostate cancer were randomly assigned to receive 3 months of an LH-RH agonist plus long-term flutamide with or without EBRT. Nineteen percent of the men had tumor stage T2, and 78% of the men had stage T3.
  • At 10 years, both overall mortality and the prostate cancer-specific mortality favored combined hormonal and radiation therapy.
  • Two smaller studies, with 78 and 91 patients each, have shown similar results.
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    What If My Biopsy Shows Cancer

    If the biopsy shows prostate cancer, your doctor will determine how likely your cancer is to grow quickly and spread. Sometimes, prostate cancer grows slowly over many years. But other times, it grows quickly.

    Your doctor can use your PSA level, Gleason score, and tumor score to determine your risk level. The following pages give more information about Gleason score, T-score, and prostate cancer risk levels.

    Gleason Score

    The Gleason score is a common scale used to determine how fast your prostate cancer is likely to grow. Gleason scores can range from 2 to 10, but most often range from 6 to 10. The higher the Gleason score, the more likely your cancer is to grow and spread.

    Tumor Score

    The T-score tells how far your prostate cancer has grown.

    • T1: The cancer is too small to be felt during a digital rectal exam or seen in an imaging test . The cancer is found from a biopsy done after a man has a high PSA level or has surgery for problems urinating. The cancer is only in the prostate gland.
    • T2: The cancer can be felt during a digital rectal exam and may be seen in an imaging test. The cancer is still only in the prostate gland.
    • T2a: The cancer is in one-fourth of the prostate gland .
    • T2b: The cancer is in more than one-fourth of the prostate gland , but has not grown into the other side of the prostate gland.
    • T2c: The cancer has grown into both sides of the prostate gland.

    Risk Level

    Table 1. Determining risk level

    Risk Level*
    • Hormone therapy

    How Important Is The Gleason Score

    Gleason Score

    The Gleason score is very important in predicting the behavior of a prostate cancer and determining the best treatment options. Still, other factors are also important, such as:

    • The blood PSA level
    • How much of each core is made up of cancer
    • The number of cores that contain cancer
    • Whether cancer was found in both sides of the prostate
    • Whether the cancer has spread outside the prostate

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    There Are Three Ways That Cancer Spreads In The Body

    Cancer can spread through tissue, the lymph system, and the blood:

    • Tissue. The cancer spreads from where it began by growing into nearby areas.
    • Lymph system. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the lymph system. The cancer travels through the lymph vessels to other parts of the body.
    • Blood. The cancer spreads from where it began by getting into the blood. The cancer travels through the blood vessels to other parts of the body.

    Standard Treatment Options For Stage Ii Prostate Cancer

    Standard treatment options for patients with stage II prostate cancer include the following:

  • Interstitial implantation of radioisotopes.
  • Watchful waiting or active surveillance/active monitoring

    Asymptomatic patients of advanced age or with concomitant illness may warrant consideration of careful observation without immediate active treatment. Watch and wait, observation, expectant management, and active surveillance/active monitoring are terms indicating a strategy that does not employ immediate therapy with curative intent. .

    Evidence :

  • In a retrospective pooled analysis, 828 men with clinically localized prostate cancer were managed by initial conservative therapy with subsequent hormonal therapy given at the time of symptomatic disease progression.
  • This study showed that the patients with well-differentiated tumors or moderately well-differentiated tumors experienced a disease-specific survival of 87% at 10 years and that their overall survival closely approximated the expected survival among men of similar ages in the general population.
  • The decision to treat should be made in the context of the patients age, associated medical illnesses, and personal desires.
  • Radical prostatectomy

    Radical prostatectomy, usually with pelvic lymphadenectomy is the most commonly applied therapy with curative intent. Radical prostatectomy may be difficult after a transurethral resection of the prostate .

    Evidence :

    Evidence :

  • About 50% of the men had palpable tumors.
  • Evidence :

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    Calculating The Gleason Score

    A doctor will use the results of a biopsy to calculate the Gleason score.

    During a biopsy, a healthcare professional will take tissue samples from different areas of the prostate. The cancer is not always present in all parts of the prostate. For this reason, they will often collect several samples.

    After examining the samples under a microscope, they will identify the two areas with the most cancer cells. They will then assign a score to each of these areas. Then, they will add these scores together to give a combined score, often referred to as the Gleason sum.

    It is important to note that sometimes, a doctor will use a different method for calculating the Gleason score.

    For example, when a biopsy sample has either a large number of high grade cancer cells or shows three different grades of mutation, they will modify the Gleason score to more accurately reflect how aggressive they deem the cancer to be.

    A persons Gleason score can technically range from 210, but it is much more likely to range from 610. We will explain why this is in the sections below.

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