The prostate is part of the male reproductive system, and is located above the bladder. The prostate is made up of specialized cells that control the secretion of prostate fluid, a component of semen. Prostate cancer develops when the cells of the prostate become unresponsive to signals from the body, and begin to divide out uncontrollably, forming a tumor. There are a number of prostate cancer types.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma is a rare form of prostate cancer that accounts for 0.5 to 1 percent of prostate cancer cases in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. Squamous cell carcinoma develops from squamous cells within the prostate, a population of epithelial cells that line the tubules of the prostate.
Squamous cell carcinoma is generally regarded as very aggressive--it is able to metastasize throughout the body, and the long-term survival associated with this form of cancer is poor. The National Institutes of Health explains that the best treatment for squamous cell carcinoma is a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy to prevent the growth of the tumor.
Small Cell Carcinoma
Small cell carcinoma of the prostate is another rare form of prostate cancer. This form of cancer rarely occurs on its own, usually occurring in combination with other forms of cancer. Early detection is almost impossible, since the blood markers normally used to identify prostate cancer are not elevated in small cell carcinoma of the prostate. Due to the lack of early detection methods and the rare nature of the disease, the prognosis for small cell carcinoma is poor.
In a 2003 study published in the "Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine," Dr. C. Trotz explains that small cell carcinoma can lead to malnutrition, but may not cause other symptoms until metastasis of the tumor leads to painful growths. Chemotherapy to shrink and prevent tumor growth may be used to treat small cell carcinoma of the prostate.
Adenocarcinoma
Adenocarcinoma of the prostate is the most common form of prostate cancer, affecting 80 percent of men over 80 years old, according to the University of Utah. Adenocarcinoma originates in the glandular tissue within the prostate, the cells that normally secrete prostate fluid. Adenosarcoma can often be detected from a blood test, since the development of prostate cancer leads to an increased amount a substance called PSA within the blood.
Treatment for adenocarcinoma may include surgical removal of the prostate, called a prostatectomy. Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
References
- National Institutes of Health: Squamous cell carcinoma of the prostate: long-term survival after combined chemo-radiation
- "Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine": Prostate Cancer with a Normal PSA: Small Cell Carcinoma of the Prostate -- A Rare Entity
- University of Utah: Prostate Pathology
