New research suggests some ‘low-risk’ prostate cancers may be deadlier than once thought.
A new study has raised concerns that some low-grade prostate cancers may be more deadly than previously believed. Researchers found that certain Gleason 6 prostate cancers, which are often classified as low-risk, could carry a higher chance of progressing to more aggressive disease.
The findings challenge the long-held practice of “active surveillance” for low-grade prostate cancer, where patients are monitored rather than treated immediately. Dr. Scott Eggener, a urologic oncologist at the University of Chicago Medicine, said, “Some men with Gleason 6 may have small foci of higher-grade cancer that can be missed.”
Experts suggest that improved diagnostic methods are needed to better identify which patients are truly low risk. “Better imaging and biopsies may help us catch aggressive disease earlier,” said Dr. William Catalona, a leading prostate cancer surgeon.
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, making accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions vital to patient outcomes.