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Terry, thanks for the enlightening response. My PSA coninues to rise (PSA-10.6,PSADT<12 mo) and yet 3 biopsies have yeilded only one core of GS6 at <5%. On 7/1 I'm having an MRI done whose results will be interpreted by software (VividLook)that is suppose to produce color pictures of tumors. (check out their website). I'll post back next week if they actually can see an tumors on the MRI.If they do see something that appears to be a tumur I plan to visit Dr Bahn for my next biopsy.
Terry, what you meant to say was that with increasing Gleason scores, into G4 and G5, that the tumour cells become LESS differentiated. Not more. Differentiation has to do with the cells becoming specific to their purpose, with prostate cells becoming mature and looking and acting like prostate cells and completely different in purpose and function than a stem cell which may have developed into a lung cell or nerve, or whatever. This de-differentiation (odd word) means the tumour cells become more primitive, and less like normal, developed, mature prostate cells.
The normal, developed, healthy prostate cell is the end result of differentiation.
There is a mathematical formula that relates psa to volume per cc of tumor by gleason grade. The lower the Gleason grade the higher the psa per cc of tumor volume. High grade PC gives off little psa per cc of tumor. It is used to estimate tumor volume if you know the psa and gleason grade. The formula used to be on the PCRI website under PC tools. Dr Bahn also uses this formula so he knows what to look for in terms of size and agressiveness when using CDU.
