Prostate Cancer
Surgeons at the UC San Diego Health System are trained in the most up-to-date and technologically advanced methods of treating prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is a common, typically slow-growing cancer. It is important to understand how significant the prostate cancer is in order to evaluate and determine the best treatment course for you.
Our prostate cancer experts include
Christopher Kane, MD and
J. Kellogg Parsons, MD, MHS, both internationally recognized leaders in prostate care. Our urologic cancer specialists
Karim Kader, MD and
Ithaar Derweesh, MD are also experts in prostate cancer.
Beyond a Second Opinion: Experts Explain Prostate Cancer Options
The following series of videos were created with the generous support of the Boesky Family Trust to provide current, useful information on different ways prostate cancer is treated at the best health systems in the US, including UC San Diego Health System.
An introduction to prostate cancer by Christopher Kane, MD. (1min. 12sec.)
Dr. Christopher Kane explains risk assessment including PSA, PSA velocity, clinical stage, grade, Gleason Grading System and biopsy information. (8min. 54sec.)
J. Kellogg Parsons, MD, MHS, discusses active surveillance or watchful waiting, and explains who is an appropriate candidate for this treatment option. (7min. 11sec.)
W. Robert Lee, MD, MS, Med, breaks down types of radiation therapy – including external radiation (IMRT and IGRT) and internal radiation or brachytherapy. (10min. 44sec.)
Dr. Christopher Kane explains radical prostatectomy, including open and robotic minimally invasive approaches. (11min. 33sec.)
Charles Ryan, MD reviews options for men with high risk prostate cancer, combining multiple therapies including prostatectomy, hormonal and radiation therapy - to increase likelihood of curing the disease. (21min. 32sec.)
A closing to "Beyond a Second Opinion" by Christopher Kane, MD (59sec.)
Assessing Prostate Cancer
| Low Risk (Meets all of the following) |
Intermediate Risk (Meets one of the following) |
High Risk (Meets one of the following) |
| PSA < 10 |
PSA 10-20 |
PSA > 20 |
| Gleason Sum </= 6 |
Gleason Sum of 7 |
Gleason Sum of 8-10 |
| Stage T1c or T2a |
Stage T2b |
Stage >/= T2c |
Michael Haynes at UCSD
NFL Hall of Famer Teams Up with AUA for Prostate Cancer Awareness. Michael Haynes, NFL Hall of Famer and former defensive back for the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Raiders was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008. In this video, he talks with his doctor, UC San Diego’s Christopher Kane, MD, and his wife Gigi, about his diagnosis and treatment.
Research and Clinical Trials in Prostate Cancer
Diet and Cancer Studies
Scientific research indicates that diet substantially affects the risk of contracting certain kinds of cancers, including those of the prostate and bladder. This suggests that diet or dietary constituents may be useful in fighting cancer. UC San Diego urologists, led by J. Kellogg Parsons, MD, are at the forefront of research investigating how diet can be manipulated to potentially prevent and treat genitourinary cancers.
Read more.
Statins and Prostate Cancer
A study coauthored by Dr. Kane and published in the July 2010 issue of Cancer found that men taking statins are less likely to experience prostate cancer recurrence after radical prostatectomy.
Read more on statins and prostate cancer.
PUNCH
The primary goal of the Pre-surgical Study Using Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy (PUNCH) is to determine whether treatment with neoadjuvant docetaxel and androgen-deprivation therapy prior to radical prostatectomy will decrease the risk of biochemical recurrence in men with high-risk prostate cancer.
Sipuleucel-T (Provenge)
In 2010, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sipuleucel-T (Provenge), an immunotherapy for androgen-independent prostate cancer. Provenge is designed to provoke the patient’s immune system to target prostate cancer cells. Patients enrolled in the phase 2 Provenge clinical trial at UC San Diego Health System receive sipuleucel-T prior to radical prostatectomy. Biopsy tissue obtained before surgery is compared to the prostatectomy specimen. After radical prostatectomy, patients will be randomly selected to receive either a booster infusion of sipuleucel-T or no further treatment. All study participants will be followed for 72 weeks. Read more at Research and Clinical Trials.
Scientific Articles on Prostate Cancer
View recent titles and abstracts of scientific articles on prostate cancer written by UC San Diego Health System’s urologic surgeons.
Visit Moores Cancer Center for more information on bladder cancer treatment at UC San Diego Health System.