Insights

DECEMBER 6, 2011

Prostate Cancer: What Happens Next?

Steven G. Wong, MD

Despite efforts at prevention, more than 1 of 6 men in the US will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing and digital rectal exam (DRE) have assisted with earlier detection. One challenge facing men diagnosed with prostate cancer is understanding treatment options both local and systemic and knowing how to choose appropriate treatment. Local therapies include surgery and radiation. Different forms of surgery exist--open radical prostatectomy, laparoscopic and robotic prostatectomy. Radiation treatment options are also numerous--external beam, conformal, intensity modulated, proton beam, brachytherapy and combinations of these. Systemic options included hormonal therapies and chemotherapy. Advances have been made in novel treatment approaches including vaccine therapy and other biologic treatments.

Dr. Wong provides a comprehensive and easy to understand overview of prostate cancer and treatment options with respect to their roles at the various stages of the disease. He also discusses the multidisciplinary nature of prostate cancer and how best management often requires the close collaboration of urologists, radiation therapists and medical oncologists.

Steven G. Wong, MD is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and researcher at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. He has engaged in translational oncology research for most of his career. Significant achievements include participation in the discovery of the role of the HER2 oncogene in breast cancer as well as the development of the highly touted and effective biologic treatment, Herceptin (trastuzumab). He engages in basic science as well as clinical research. Dr. Wong now focuses a large portion of his practice and research in genitourinary malignancies including bladder, testes, and kidney in addition to prostate. He also has an active medical oncology practice and understands caring for patients.