Nanotechnology for prostate cancer
Ming Gao
NEU ID: 001983161
NNMD 5270 Introduction to Nanomedicine Science and Technology
Professor Srinivas Sridhar
Dr. Anne L. van de Ven
Northeastern University
12/08/2014
Introduction
Prostate cancer (PCa), the development of cancer in the prostate, is one of the most mortal diseases that threaten men’s lives in current world. It is the most commonly diagnosed non-skin cancer in the United States, and it is second leading cause of cancer deaths in American men. Autopsy series have revealed that small prostatic carcinomas are present in up to 64 percent of men from 60 to 70 years of age. [1] Most prostate cancers are slow growing, and it causes no symptoms in early stages. Thus, most patients are found in advanced stage. Older age, race and family background of the disease are three main factors to increase the risk of the disease. A few other factors are linked to increase the disease including dietary, medication exposure, viral and sexual factors.
Nanotechnology is a novel technology what generally deals with structures and systems with a size less than 100nm. [1] Due to its unique tiny size, the properties are quite different from bulk properties include physical properties, chemistry properties, biological properties. For example, gold in bulk form is inert, but in nano scale, it tends to be very active. Moreover, different sizes, structures, and surface areas of gold nanoparticles make it exhibit different colors.
Today, prostate cancer is usually detected through screening, and there are two methods for early detection. The prostate-specific antigen test (PSA) is used, but there are
An individual's risk for HIV or social determinants of health related to HIV is income, education, geographic region, poverty, gender orientation, early childhood experiences, and alcohol or substance abuse. The CDC
In the case for PSA screening, PCa is the leading internal malignancy in US men and the second leading cause of cancer death in American men. Early detection of prostate cancers offers the best chance of cure. The PSA blood test is the best chance of cure. Currently, the PSA blood test is the best currently available way to detect PCa and it is easy, safe and inexpensive. PSA test results is a piece of information, it is what doctors do with the information that becomes the issue. However, the great majority of PSA detected tumors have the histologic characteristics of clinically important cancers. Also, PSA detection has found tumors early advancing the diagnosis by Seeral years (5-13) and prostate cancer mortality rates in U.S have decreased by 4% (patho book) since 1992, which is 5 years after initiation of prostate screenings. The dilemma is over treating the clinically unimportant disease versus under
4) The risk factor increases if more than one family member suffers from the disease.
There are also people with various factors that increase the risk of a person becoming affected by the disease. Age plays a large role in acquiring the disease. Since the disease is largely found in elderly people, the general age for onset is around age 65. After that, the number of people affected continues to increase with age. Another risk factor is
Prostate Cancer is a disease in which there is an uncontrolled growth of cells that lines the ducts of the prostate gland. The abnormal cells can spread throughout the prostate and nearby organs, such as the seminal vesicles. If not caught early they can spread (metastasized) to other organs of the body through the lymph or blood stream. (“...Treatment...” 13) Prostate Cancer can be like a silent killer. Some may show signs and symptoms of this disease while others may not. Some symptoms may include frequent urination, blood in the urine or semen, delayed or slowed start of urinary stream and dribbling or leakage of urine. Diagnosis testing for Prostate Cancer are digital
- You need to be genetically susceptible to the disease, and then something in the environment triggers it. [also, something about microbiota and an inflammatory immune response].
1. Environmental factors such as trace metals, industrial toxins, and diet have been thought to be a major contributor to the disease.
No one really knows the exact cause of the disease but it has been predicted that genetics and the environment that the person is in may actually play a big role when it comes to catching the disease.
There are many risk factors that one should take into consideration. Having high blood pressure, being inactive and overweight are both very high risk factors. If a family member has diabetes or if a person is African, American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic or Latino descent, they also have a greater risk of the disease.
Each year approximately 233,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer (Eggener, Cifu, & Nabhan, 2015). In 2015, prostate cancer was the second most common cancer related cause of death among United States men (Eggener, et. al., 2015). While the majority of prostate cancers are slow growing with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 98%, statistics show that when prostate cancer is identified as metastatic, the 5-year survival rate dramatically drops down to 20-25% (Eggener, et. al., 2015). According to these numbers alone, it appears screening for prostate cancer would be a well-accepted practice. However, current methods of screening for this cancer are controversial and has lead organizations like the U.S Preventative Service Task Force (USPSTF) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) to different guidelines for screening.
Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer share a few similarities, elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Along with enlargement of prostate gland that causes urinary symptoms such as, frequent urination, hesitancy, dribbling, and frequent nighttime urination. However, they are quite different which is why more tests need to be done to confirm one or the other condition. These two diseases are also similar in the fact that they both cause an enlargement of the prostate. However with BPH the central portion of the prostate is enlarged and with prostate cancer more commonly the lateral lobes or side of the prostate are enlarged, but can affect any were on the prostate. Both can even be detected by a digital rectal exam however
The prostate gland is an egg-sized organ that rings the male urethra. The secretions of the prostate give nutrients to the semen. Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second most common cause of cancer death in men. (Ernstoff,Heaney,Peschel,1998,pviii) Like all cancers, prostate cancer is an uncontrolled cell production in a particular organ or area of the body. In the case of prostate cancer, these cells begin to split impulsively in the prostate and form tumors. As these tumors begin to grow they begin to use up oxygen from other healthy cells and surrounding tissue. Not only do these tumors take up oxygen from other cells, they secrete protein signals that initiate the formation of new
Prostatic carcinoma is the most commonest threat in men and the moment driving cause of cancer passing in Western populaces.