Prostate carcinoma: opportunities for translational research.

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate continues to be a major health concern. Although modern screening techniques have increased the number of men presenting with early stage disease, a significant population of men will present with intermediate or advanced pathological risk factors for recurrence. There are defined limitations in outcome with traditional therapies including surgery, radiation therapy, and hormone manipulation. Patients with intermediate and high-risk factors for treatment failure are candidates for protocols using translational research strategies incorporated into studies currently in development. These strategies may be able to selectively treat expression products of tumor and thus be more selective in the target for treatment. Carefully designed studies using these translational strategies have great potential in improving clinical outcome, tumor kill, and normal tissue tolerance in the care of these patients. Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.