What is the role of stroma in cancer spread?

Question

Hello doctor,

My grandfather is 74 years old, and he was found to have prostate cancer. The oncologist who found the cancer said that it would metastasize and spread throughout the body. I want to understand something that came across while we were searching for information, like

What is the role of stroma in prostate cancer?
How does it relate to the spread of the cancer?
Are there any new advancements that can help control the metastasis and, ideally, remove the cancer?

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern. Stage 2 prostate cancer is usually curable with radical surgery or local radiotherapy. With these two treatment options, metastasis can be prevented in most cases. There is nothing like stroma; maybe it is prostatic stroma.

The word "stroma" describes the tissues surrounding the prostatic epithelium later in development. In the adult human prostate, the stroma is composed mainly of smooth muscle cells. However, it also includes some fibroblasts, nerves, blood vessels, and various infiltrating immune and inflammatory cell types.

If you have a PSMA (prostate-specific membrane antigen) PET (positron emission tomography) scan and pathology report, I will be able to know the exact stage of the cancer and its aggressiveness. So that I will be able to give you valuable pieces of advice.

I hope this helps you.