RT Book, Section
A1 Norris, LeAnn B.
A2 Sutton, S. Scott
SR Print(0)
ID 1158313908
T1 Prostate Cancer
T2 McGraw-Hill's NAPLEX® Review Guide, 3e
YR 2019
FD 2019
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9781260135923
LK accesspharmacy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1158313908
RD 2024/04/19
AB Prostate  cancer  is  the  most  common  cancer  in  men.  Most  prostate  cancers  are  adenocarcinomas,  and  occur  when  normal  semen-secreting  cells  mutate  into  cancer  cells  and  grow  uncontrollably.  Normal  growth  and  differentiation  of  the  prostate  depends  on  the  presence  of  androgens,  specifically  dihydrotestosterone  (DHT).  Hormonal  regulation  of  androgen  synthesis  is  mediated  by  a  negative  feedback  loop  involving  the  hypothalamus,  pituitary,  adrenal  glands,  and  testes.  Luteinizing  hormone–releasing  hormone  (LH-RH)  released  from  the  hypothalamus  stimulates  the  release  of  luteinizing  hormone  (LH)  and  follicle-stimulating  hormone  (FSH)  from  the  anterior  pituitary  gland.  LH  stimulates  the  production  of  testosterone  and  small  amounts  of  estrogen.  FSH  acts  on  the  Sertoli  cells  within  the  testes  to  promote  the  maturation  of  LH  receptors  and  to  produce  an  androgen-binding  protein.  Circulating  testosterone  and  estradiol  influence  the  synthesis  of  the  hormones  involved  in  the  negative  feedback.  Testosterone,  the  major  androgenic  hormone,  accounts  for  95%  of  the  androgen  concentration.  The  primary  source  of  testosterone  is  the  testes;  however,  3%  to  5%  of  the  testosterone  concentration  is  derived  from  direct  adrenal  cortical  secretion  of  testosterone  or  steroids  such  as  androstenedione.