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S

SAMPLING ERROR: Failure to obtain cancer cells in a tissue sample that results in false negative result. Synonym: Sampling variation.

SAMPLING VARIATION: Failure to obtain cancer cells in a tissue sample that results in false negative result. Synonym: Sampling error.

SCREENING: Evaluation of populations of people who have no symptoms of the disease for which they are being evaluated in an effort to diagnose disease in its early stages.

SEED IMPLANTATION (SI): A treatment for prostate cancer in which radioactive seeds encased in titanium shells are permanently implanted into the prostate gland.

SELENOMETHIONINE: A substance that shows an inhibitory effect on certain prostate cancer cell lines that appear to be independent of androgen receptor or PSA pathways.

SEMEN: Ejaculate fluid and sperm.

SEMINAL VESICLES: Glandular structures located above and behind the prostate that secrete and store seminal fluid. Seminal fluid is one component of ejaculate.

SEXTANT BIOPSY: Biopsy method in the prostate that includes tissue samples from six sites, including the apex, midportion, and base on each side. Now replaced by the use of 10 or more needle samples.

SI: seed implantation

SIDE EFFECT: Complication of therapy.

SIGN: Physical change resulting from an illness that can be observed.

SMALL CELL CARCINOMA: Rare form of prostate cancer with poor prognosis. Synonym: Neuroendocrine carcinoma.

SPHINCTER: Muscle that controls opening and closing of anatomic structures. Example: The urethral sphincter controls urination by squeezing the urethra closed.

SPINAL CORD COMPRESSION: Pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. Example: Spinal cord compression from prostate cancer metastasis to the spine.

STAGE: Size and spread of cancer in the prostate. See CLINICAL STAGE, PATHOLOGICAL STAGE.

STRESS INCONTINENCE: Uncontrolled release of urine during abdominal stress or strain.

STRICTURE: Narrowing of an anatomic channel due to scarring. Example: Urethral stricture resulting from surgical trauma.

STRONTIUM: Radioactive substance used to treat bone pain from cancer metastases.

SUPRARENAL GLAND: Small triangular organ above each kidney which is hormonally active, producing about 5% of male androgens. Also called adrenal glands. Other

SURGICAL MARGIN: Edge of a surgical specimen.

SV: Seminal Vesicles - The seminal vesicles are two sac-like structures that produce part of the thick fluid (semen) that contains sperm. The vesicles are located just above the prostate gland.

SYMPTOM: Patient description of results of illness that cannot be

T

T: testosterone, also tetraploid

TAB: total androgen blockade

TEC: Taxotere, Estramustine, and Carboplatin

TEMPLATE: Device used to position seed implants during seed implantation therapy.

TESTES: Male sex organs which produce sperm and testosterone. Synonym: testicles.

TESTICLES: Paired male organs which produce sperm and testosterone. Synonym: testes.

TESTOSTERONE (T): The male hormone or androgen that comprises most of the androgens in a man's body. Chiefly produced by the testicles, testosterone is essential to virtually every male function from the brain to toenails.

TESTOSTERONE, FREE:  Only about 2 percent of the total testosterone in the plasma of men is free or nonprotein bound; about 1 percent in women. In most men and women, more than 50 percent of total circulating testosterone is bound to sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), and most of the rest is bound to albumin. It is only the free or nonprotein bound testosterone which is the hormonally active form, able to interact with cellular hormone receptors. SHBG-bound testosterone is not readily available for intracellular complex formation because of SHBG's high binding affinity for testosterone.

TETRA: tetraploid

THERAPEUTIC INDEX (TI): Treatment benefit divided by treatment side effects.

THERMOCOUPLES: In relation to prostate cancer, devices used during cryosurgery to monitor the temperature achieved by cryo-probes, thus helping to improve the therapeutic index of the procedure.

THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONFORMAL THERAPY (3dEBRT): Method of external-beam radiation therapy that uses a careful map of the individual patient’s prostate to optimize delivery of radiation to the prostate.

tid: Three times daily (Latin dosing abbreviations) Other

TNM: Staging system for cancer. T indicates tumor, N indicates lymph node involvement, and M indicates distant metastases.

TOTAL ANDROGEN BLOCKADE: Treatment which decreases or eliminates androgens. Example: Surgical castration removes the testicles, the principle source of androgens. Synonym: Androgen deprivation, androgen blockade.

TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR BETA-1 (TGF-b1): A growth factor produced by prostate cells, as well as by cells of the bone matrix. Elevated plasma levels of TGF-b1 obtained at baseline are associated with distant disease involving bone and/or lymph nodes.

TRANSITION ZONE: Anatomic region of the prostate which surrounds the urethra in which most cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia develop.

TRANSRECTAL ULTRASOUND OF THE PROSTATE (TRUSP OR TRUS): A method that uses the echoes of ultrasound waves to image the prostate by inserting an ultrasound probe into the rectum.

TRANSRECTAL: Through the rectum (as in transrectal ultrasound of the prostate).

TRANSURETHRAL RESECTION OF THE PROSTATE (TURP): A surgical procedure to remove prostate tissue obstructing the urethra. Used for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.

TRANSURETHRAL: Through the urethra. See Transurethral Resection of the Prostate.

TRUS: Imaging technique that uses sound wave created by a device inserted into the rectum to visualize the prostate. Synonym: Transrectal Ultrasound.

TRUSP: transrectal ultrasound of the prostate

TUMOR VOLUME: The amount of tumor measured in cubic centimeters.

TUMOR: An excessive growth of cells caused by uncontrolled and disorderly cell replacement that can be either benign or malignant.

TUIP: Transurethral incision of the prostate

TURP: Abbreviation for transurethral resection of the prostate. Surgical removal of prostatic tissue by inserting an instrument into the urethra, usually used as a treatment for symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia.

TX: treatment

TZ: transition zone (of prostate)

U

ULTRASENSITIVE PSA ASSAY: PSA assays that are able to measure very small amounts of PSA in the blood sample, reliable to the hundredth or even the thousandth of a nanogram per milliliter of blood. Tosoh and DPC Immulite Third Generation assays are examples of ultrasensitive PSA assays.

ULTRASOUND: Imaging technique that uses sound waves to visualize internal organs.

UPREGULATING (UPREGULATION): Turning on or increasing a mechanism of action at the biochemical level in the body.

URETER: Paired anatomic tubal structures that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

URETHRA: Anatomic tubal structure leading from the bladder to the outside of the body. In men, the urethra passes through the prostate and penis.

URGE INCONTINENCE: Unexpected loss of urine resulting from uncontrolled bladder muscle contractions.

URGENCY: Need to urinate immediately.

URINARY RETENTION: Inability to urinate.

URODYNAMIC STUDY: Diagnostic test to evaluate bladder and urethral function.

UROKINASE-TYPE PLASMINOGEN ACTIVATOR (uPA): A substance believed to play a role in prostate cancer invasion and metastasis that is stimulated by IGF-1 and inhibited by GLA and EPA.

UROLOGIST: A surgically trained physician who specializes in disorders of the genitourinary system.

V

VACUUM PUMP: A device that creates an erection by drawing blood into the penis with vacuum pressure.

VAS DEFERENS: Paired anatomic tubal structures that carry sperm from the testicles to the ejaculatory ducts and urethra.

VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR (VEGF): A substance known to stimulate blood vessel growth or angiogenesis and hence to stimulate PC growth.

VASECOTMY: Surgical blockade of the vas deferens, resulting in prevention of sperm flow and thus infertility.

VIADUR: Brand name of an LHRH agonist that is implanted under the skin and releases medication over the course of one year.

VITAMIN E SUCCINATE: Substance that inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells of certain cell lines by suppressing androgen receptor expression and PSA expression.

W

Watchful Waiting: Conservative therapy of prostate cancer involving careful monitoring. Synonyms: Expectant management, deferred therapy.

WHITMORE-JEWETT STAGING SYSTEM: Older staging system to evaluate size and extent of prostate cancer. Now largely replaced by TNM system. Synonyms: American staging system, ABCD system.

WW: watchful waiting

X

XRT: external radiation therapy

Y

Z

Z SCORE: A designation of bone mineral density that relates the patient's bone density to that of a pooled population of similar age. See T Score.

ZOMETA: A bisphosphonate used to help prevent bone deterioration during hormonal ablation therapy. Some evidence that it may help prevent or slow down the spread of prostate cancer in the bones. Other

ZOLADEX: Brand name of one of the LHRH-agonists.