Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a disease that occurs when malignant (cancer) cells grow in the tissues of the prostate. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system found below the bladder and in front of the rectum.

It is unclear exactly what causes prostate cancer, although certain risk factors are linked to the disease:

• Age: Prostate cancer is rarely seen in men younger than age 40; the chance of being diagnosed with prostate cancer goes up sharply as men get older
• Race: Prostate cancer is more common among African American men than among men of other races, and African American men are also more likely to have more advanced disease when it is found; prostate cancer occurs less often in Asian American and Hispanic/Latino men than in non-Hispanic Whites
• Family history: Men have an increased risk of prostate cancer if one or more of their first-degree relatives (i.e., father, brother, son) has prostate cancer, especially if the relative was diagnosed before age 60

Excluding non-melanoma cancers of the skin, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer among men in the United States. It is estimated that 238,590* men in the United States will be newly diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013.

Treatment options for prostate cancer vary depending on the stage of disease, previous treatment and, other medical conditions. Talk with your doctor about what treatment options may be available for you.

*American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2013. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2013

Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials

The NCI Center for Cancer Research (CCR) conducts clinical trials at the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. CCR is currently conducting the following trials for patients with prostate cancer. Click on the trials below for additional details, including a summary of key eligibility criteria, study outline, and information on how to contact the principal investigators and their staff directly. For information on a particular trial or to discuss a screening visit, contact a member of the research team listed on the trial’s summary.

If you need further assistance, call our toll-free number at 1-888-NCI-1937 (1-888-624-1937) to be connected to a referral coordinator appropriate for your diagnosis.