The National Cancer Institute states that in 2010 there will be 217,730 new cases of prostate cancer and 32,050 deaths as a result of prostate cancer. The prostate is a gland that lies just in front of the rectum and below the bladder in men. Prostate cancer is slow growing and usually occurs in older men. Advances in the treatment of prostate cancer are being made.
Provenge
On April 29, 2010, the Food and Drug Administration approved sipuleucel-T, or Provenge, as a treatment for metastatic, hormone resistant prostate cancer. This therapy requires the withdrawal of the patient's white blood cells via leukapheresis. Leukapheresis is a process whereby the liquid portion of the blood is separated from the actual white blood cells. The cells are then treated and returned to the patient while the plasma is discarded. In the case of sipuleucel-T, the cells are treated with prostatic enzymes and white blood cell-stimulating factors. According to the National Cancer Institute, FDA approval of sipuleucel-T was based on study in which patients had metastasis to soft tissue or bone with evidence of disease progression. The overall endpoint of the study was to assess survival. Those patients receiving sipuleucel-T had an additional four months survival compared to those who did not receive the treatment.
Robotics
The use of robots in surgery allows the surgeon to make very precise incisions using minimally invasive technology for the removal of the prostate, according to MayoClinic.com. The da Vinci robotic system is used in many hospitals by urologic surgeons to help decrease the incidence of erectile dysfunction and incontinence associated with prostate surgery. The surgeon sits at a console and directs the robots arms during the dissection of tissues. Surgery is usually reserved for those patients who are in good health and do not have metastatic spread, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery is currently under development for prostate cancer. Cryosurgery involves the destruction of prostate cancer cells by intermittent freezing of the cancer cells with cryoprobes, followed by thawing, according to the National Cancer Institute. Cryosurgery is less well established and long-term outcomes have yet to be recorded. Serious side effects include bladder outlet injury, urinary incontinence, sexual impotence and rectal injury. The incidence of side effects and the probability of cancer control at a five years' follow up have varied as case series are small compared to other cancer treatments, notes the National Cancer Institute.
