Bay Biosciences provides high quality, clinical grade tumor tissue samples, FFPE blocks with matched cryogenically preserved K2EDTA plasma, sera (serum), and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) bio-fluid samples from prostate cancer patients.

Furthermore, the team processes K2EDTA plasma, sera (serum), and PBMC biofluid specimens from prostate cancer patients’ peripheral whole blood using customized collection and processing protocols.

In addition, we collect prostate cancer tumor tissue and matched bio-fluid samples from unique patients diagnosed with prostate cancer; consequently, they provide them to a valued pharmaceutical customer for research, diagnostics, discovery, and drug development.

Prostate Cancer Overview

Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that grows in the prostate gland. Furthermore, prostate cancer usually progresses slowly, which means that many people may not notice signs for many years.

In particular, this type of cancer commonly affects men over 50. Moreover, African-Americans and men with a first-degree relative, such as a father or brother, who were diagnosed with prostate cancer at a younger age are at higher risk.

Specifically, the prostate gland, a walnut-sized gland found only in men, lies in the pelvis below the bladder. Additionally, it wraps around the urethra, the tube through which urine exits the body, and sits in front of the rectum.

Furthermore, it secretes part of the liquid portion of the semen, or seminal fluid, which carries sperm that the testes produce. Consequently, this fluid is essential for reproduction.

Functions of Prostate Gland

In addition, the prostate has various functions, including:

First, producing the fluid that nourishes and transports sperm; second, secreting prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein that helps semen retain its liquid state; and third, helping to aid urine control.

Moreover, according to the American cancer society (ACS), other than skin cancer, prostate cancer ranks as the second most common cancer in men in the United States, after skin cancers.

The ACS estimates that this year, 248,530 people will develop new cases of prostate cancer in the United States; furthermore, about 34,130 people will die from prostate cancer.

Common problems, on the other hand, include benign (noncancerous) enlargement of the prostate, which doctors call BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia).

Additionally, there are also acute and chronic infections of the prostate (acute and chronic bacterial prostatitis), as well as chronic inflammation of the prostate that is not related to bacteria (chronic prostatitis-non-bacterial).

Types of Prostate Cancer

Almost all adenocarcinomas, in fact, originate from prostate cancers. Specifically, gland cells (the cells that make the prostate fluid added to the semen) develop these cancers.

In addition, other types of cancer can start in the prostate, including:

  • Small cell carcinomas
  • Neuroendocrine tumors (other than small cell carcinomas)
  • Transitional cell carcinomas
  • Sarcomas

According to the ACS, autopsy studies show that, interestingly, many older men (and even some younger men) who died of other causes also had prostate cancer that, nevertheless, never affected them during their lives. In many cases, consequently, neither they nor their doctors knew they had it.

Stages of Prostate Cancer

The prostate cancer stages are as follows:

  • First, Stage I: The tumor remains small and is still contained within the prostate gland. 
  • Next, Stage II: The tumor advances further but is still confined within the prostate gland.
  • Then, Stage III: The tumor spreads to the outer part of the prostate and to the nearby seminal vesicles
  • Finally, Stage IV: The tumor spreads to lymph nodes, other nearby organs or tissues such as the rectum or bladder, or to distant sites such as the lungs or bones.

Furthermore, the tumor spreads to lymph nodes, other nearby organs or tissues such as the rectum or bladder, or to distant sites such as the lungs or bones.

Causes of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer develops when specific changes occur, usually in glandular cells. Specifically, researchers call cancerous or precancerous cells in the prostate gland prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN).

Moreover, studies show that almost 50% of all males over the age of 50 years have PIN.

Initially, the changes occur slowly, and the cells are not cancerous. Nevertheless, the changes can lead to cancerous cells over time. In addition, doctors classify cancer cells as high grade or low grade.

Specifically, high grade cells are more likely to grow and spread, while low grade cells are less likely to grow and do not raise concern.

Signs and Symptoms of Prostate Cancer

Symptoms of prostate cancer do not usually appear until the prostate is large enough to affect the tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the penis (urethra).

Following are signs and symptoms of more advanced prostate cancers:

  • Abdominal Pain 
  • Bone fracture or bone pain, especially in the hips, thighs, or shoulders
  • Changes in bowel habits
  • Edema, or swelling in the legs or feet
  • Fatigue
  •  Problems urinating, including a slow or weak urinary stream or the need to urinate more often, especially at night

Additional Symptoms

  • Blood in the urine or semen
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Trouble getting an erection (erectile dysfunction or ED)
  • Painful ejaculation
  • Pain in the hips, back (spine), chest (ribs), or other areas from cancer that has spread to bones 
  • Pain or discomfort when sitting, if the prostate is enlarged
  • Weakness or numbness in the legs or feet, or even loss of bladder or bowel control from cancer pressing on the spinal cord
  • Unexplained Weight Loss

Risk Factors of Prostate Cancer

Researchers do not know the exact causes of why prostate cancer develops; however, the following factors may increase the risk:

  • Firstly, Age: The risk increases after the age of 50, but it is rare before the age of 45.
  • Secondly, Race or ethnicity: Black males experience a higher incidence than white males; conversely, Asian and Hispanic males face a lower risk than black or white males.
  • In addition, Family history: If a male has a close relative with a history of prostate cancer, then he has a higher chance of developing it himself.
  • Finally, Genetic factors: Inherited features, including changes to the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, may increase the risk. Furthermore, these genes’ mutations increase the chance of breast cancer in females, too. Additionally, men with Lynch syndrome also face a higher risk of prostate and other cancers.

Other Possible Factors

There is some evidence to suggest that other factors may play a role, but scientists need more evidence to confirm their involvement:

Diagnostic Tests of Prostate Cancer

The pathologist ultimately bases the diagnosis of prostate cancer on the review of tissue removed at the time of the prostate biopsy. An abnormal PSA and/or abnormal digital rectal examination often indicate the need for the prostate biopsy.

Digital Rectal Exam

Digital Rectal Examination (DRE): As part of a physical examination, your doctor inserts a gloved and lubricated finger into your rectum and feels toward the front of your body. Specifically, the prostate gland, which your doctor identifies, is a walnut or larger sized gland immediately in front of your rectum, located beneath your bladder.

Furthermore, the back portion of the prostate gland can be felt in this manner. Consequently, findings on this exam are compared to notes about the patient’s prior digital rectal examinations.

PSA Blood Test

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Blood Test: The PSA blood test measures the level of a protein in the blood that the prostate gland produces and, consequently, helps keep semen in liquid form.

Furthermore, the PSA test can indicate an increased likelihood of prostate cancer if the PSA level increases, elevates, or changes significantly over time; however, it does not provide a definitive diagnosis. Moreover, doctors can find prostate cancer in patients with low PSA levels as well, although this occurs less than 20% of the time.

Prostate Biopsy

Prostate biopsy: A biopsy, in fact, refers to a procedure that involves taking a sample of tissue from an area in the body. Furthermore, doctors only definitively diagnose prostate cancer by finding cancer cells on a biopsy tissue sample taken from the prostate gland.

Additionally, the pathologist provides a report on the biopsy sample showing prostate cancer that contains much detailed information. Specifically, the report will include the size of the biopsy core and the percentage of involvement of each core.

Most importantly, a numerical score will characterize the prostate cancer present. Specifically, it usually expresses as a sum of two numbers (for example, 3 + 4) and is referred to as the Gleason Score.

Furthermore, this score characterizes the appearance of the cancer cells and helps predict their likely level of aggressiveness in the body. Notably, a Gleason score of 6 or less indicates low-grade prostate cancer, whereas, in contrast, scores of 8-10 indicate high-grade prostate cancer.

Prostate Cancer Grading System

Researchers developed a new prostate cancer grading system in 2014 to help assess risk and assign a Gleason grade group. This grade group is particularly useful in Gleason score 7, where the predominant cell type could be a 4 or a 3, which may impact prostate cancer risk.

  • Firstly, Gleason grade group 1: Gleason score < 6
  • Secondly, Gleason grade group 2: Gleason score 3+4= 7
  • Thirdly, Gleason grade group 3: Gleason score 4+3 = 7
  • Additionally, Gleason grade group 4: Gleason 4+4 =8, 3+5 = 8 and 5+3 = 8
  • Finally, Gleason grade group 5: Gleason score 9 and 10

The Gleason score, the percentage of involvement of the biopsy core, the PSA level, the general state of health, and the estimated life expectancy all enable doctors to make their best recommendations regarding how to treat the cancer.

Therefore, these factors are crucial in determining the most effective treatment options. Furthermore, by considering these elements, doctors can tailor their approach **accordingly** to meet the individual needs of each patient.

Stages of Prostate Cancer

The American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) system for prostate cancer staging is as follows:

  • T designations refer to the characteristics of the prostate cancer primary tumor
  • T1 prostate cancers cannot be seen on imaging tests or felt on examination. These may be found incidentally when surgery is done on the prostate for a problem presumed to be benign, or on needle biopsy for an elevated PSA.
  • T1a means that the cancer cells comprise less than 5% of the tissue removed.
  • T1b means that cancer cells comprise more than 5% of the tissue removed.
  • T1c means that the tissue containing cancer was obtained by needle biopsy for an elevated PSA.
  • T2 prostate cancers are those that can felt (palpated) on physical examination of the prostate gland (on digital rectal exam) or that can be visualized with imaging studies such as ultrasound, X-ray, or related studies. The prostate gland is comprised of two halves or lobes. The extent of involvement of those lobes is described here.

Additional Stages

  • T2a means the cancer involves one half of one lobe of the prostate or less.
  • T2b means the cancer involves more than half of one lobe but does not involve the other lobe of the prostate.
  • T2c means that the cancer has grown into or involves both lobes of the prostate.
  • T3 prostate cancers have grown to the extent that the tumor extends outside of the prostate gland. Adjacent tissues, including the capsule around the prostate gland, the seminal vesicles, as well as the bladder neck, may be involved in T3 tumors.
  • T3a means that the cancer has extended beyond the capsule (the outer edge) of the prostate gland but not into the seminal vesicles.
  • T3b means that the cancer has invaded into the seminal vesicles.
  • T4 prostate cancers have spread outside of the prostate gland and have invaded adjacent tissues or organs. This may be determined by examination, biopsy, or imaging studies. T4 prostate cancer may involve the pelvic floor muscles, the urethral sphincter, the bladder itself, the rectum, or the levator muscles or the pelvic wall. T4 tumors have become fixed to or invaded adjacent structures other than the seminal vesicles.

Treatment of Prostate Cancer

Treatment of prostate cancer depends on the stage of the cancer, among other factors. Following are some of the available treatments for prostate cancer:

Early Stage Prostate Cancer

If the cancer  is small and localized, a doctor may recommend the following:

Watchful Waiting and Monitoring

The doctor may check PSA blood levels regularly but take no immediate action. Prostate cancer grows slowly, and the risk of side effects may outweigh the need for immediate treatment.

Surgery

A surgeon may carry out a prostatectomy. They can remove the prostate gland using either laparoscopic or open surgery.

Radiation Therapy

Following are the available options for radiation therapy:

Brachytherapy: In this procedure a doctor will implant radioactive seeds into the prostate to deliver targeted radiation treatment.

Conformal radiation therapy: This targets a specific area, minimizing the risk to healthy tissue. Another type, called intensity modulated radiation therapy, uses beams with variable intensity. Treatment will depend on various factors. A doctor will discuss the best option for the individual patient.

Advanced Prostate Cancer

As cancer grows, it can spread (metastasize) throughout the body. If it spreads, or if it comes back after remission, the treatment options will change.

Following are some of the treatment options for advanced stage prostate cancer:

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy can kill  cancer cells around the body, but it can cause adverse effects.

Hormonal Therapy: Androgens are male hormones. The main androgens are testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Blocking and reducing these hormones appears to stop or delay the growth of  cancer cells. One option is to undergo surgery to remove the testicles, which produce most of the body’s hormones. Various drugs can also help.

Lupron is a kind of hormone therapy that doctors use to treat prostate cancer. Majority of doctors do not recommend surgery in the later stages, as it does not treat cancer that has spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. However, some experts have suggested that it may help in some cases.

New Treatments

Some newer approaches aim to treat prostate cancer without the side effects that other treatment options can bring. These include:

  • Cryotherapy
  • High intensity focused ultrasound

After surgery, a doctor will continue to monitor PSA levels.

Effects on Fertility

The prostate gland plays and important role in sexual reproduction. Prostate cancer and many of its treatments affect fertility in several ways. For example, if a male has surgery to remove either the prostate gland or the testicles, it will affect semen production and fertility.

Also, radiation therapy can affect prostate tissue, damaging sperm and reducing the amount of semen for transporting it.

Hormonal treatment can also affect fertility.

However, some options for preserving these functions include:

  • Banking sperm before surgery
  • Extracting sperm directly from the testicles for artificial insemination

However, there is no guarantee that fertility will remain intact after treatment for prostate cancer. Anyone who would like to have children after treatment should discuss fertility options with their doctor when they devise their treatment plan.

Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences is, indeed a global leader in providing researchers with high quality, clinical grade, fully characterized human tissue samples, bio-specimens, and human bio-fluid collections.

Specifically, aamples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Moreover, Bay Biosciences maintains and manages its own biorepository, the human tissue bank (biobank) consisting of thousands of diseased samples (specimens) and from normal healthy donors available in all formats and types.

In fact, our biobank procures and stores fully consented, de-identified and institutional review boards (IRB) approved human tissue samples and matched controls.

Additionally, all our human tissue collections, human specimens and human bio-fluids are provided with detailed, samples associated patient’s clinical data.

In particular, critical patient’s clinical data includes information relating to their past and current disease, treatment history, lifestyle choices, biomarkers, and genetic information.

Moreover, patient’s data is extremely valuable for researchers and is used to help identify new effective treatments (drug discovery & development) in oncology, and other therapeutic areas and diseases.

Specifically, Bay Biosciences banks wide variety of human tissue samples and biological samples, including cryogenically preserved at – 80°C.

For example fresh frozen tissue samples, tumor tissue samples, formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE), tissue slides, with matching human bio-fluids, whole blood and blood-derived products such as serum, plasma and PBMC.

Furthermore, Bay Biosciences is a global leader in collecting and providing human tissue samples according to the specified requirements and customized, tailor-made collection protocols.

Therefore, please contact us anytime to discuss your special research projects and customized human tissue sample requirements.

Types of Biospecimens

Bay Biosciences provides human tissue samples (human specimens) from diseased and normal healthy donors which includes:

Customized Collections

Moreover, we can also procure most human bio-specimens, furthermore; we offer special collections and requests for human samples that are difficult to find. All our human tissue samples are procured through IRB-approved clinical protocols and procedures.

In addition to the standard processing protocols, Bay Biosciences can also provide human plasma, serum, and PBMC bio-fluid samples using custom processing protocols. Additionally you buy donor-specific collections in higher volumes and specified sample aliquots from us.

Furthermore, Bay Biosciences also provides human samples from normal healthy donors; volunteers, for controls and clinical research, contact us Now.

 

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