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Abstract

Prostate cancer is one of the most common neoplasms in men, with a high incidence worldwide and significant mortality. The disease has a variable course; it usually presents in a fulminant manner, although there are cases of rapidly progressing disease with a very poor prognosis. Most tumors are adenocarcinomas. Its etiology is multifactorial, involving genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. In 5%-10% of cases, it is associated with germline mutations of genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2, and ATM, and it is described within Lynch syndrome. Prostate cancer staging uses the TNM and Gleason systems to define tumor stage and aggressiveness as well as the best treatment strategy to follow. Treatment ranges from active surveillance in low risk cases, radical treatment with radiotherapy or surgery along with androgen deprivation therapy in localized higher risk stages, the use of hormone therapy for palliative purposes in cases of unresectable recurrence or hormone sensitive metastatic disease, or the use of cytotoxic drugs such as taxane-based chemotherapy in cases of metastatic disease refractory to castration. In some specific cases, treatments such as lutetium, radium, PARP inhibitors, or immunotherapy are considered. Close follow-up is key in order to avoid overdiagnosis and overtreatment.