A
B
C
D
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G
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I
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A Return To Top
Adjunctive therapy: Additional treatment added to a primary therapy to achieve a better outcome
Androgen: A hormone that promotes the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics
Androgen Suppression: Treatment that suppresses or blocks the production of male hormones (also called Androgen Ablation)
B Return To Top
Benign: Not cancerous
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: A condition in which overgrowth of prostate tissue pushes against the urethra and the bladder, blocking the flow of urine (also called Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy)
Biopsy: Removal of a small tissue sample for microscopic examination
Bone Scan: A picture of the skeleton that determines if the cancer has spread to the bone
Brachytherapy: Procedure to insert radioactive material, that is sealed in seeds, wires, catheters, or needles, directly into or near a tumor (also called Internal Radiation, Implant Radiation, or Interstitial Radiation Therapy)
C Return To Top
Cancer: A growth made up of abnormal cells that can invade nearby organs and spread to other parts of the body (also called a Malignant Tumor or Neoplasm)
Castration: Destruction of the testes by radiation, surgery or other means
Chemotherapy: Use of chemicals to destroy cancer cells
Computed Tomographic Scan (CT Scan): Cross-sectional images of the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine
Cryotherapy: The treatment used to destroy cells by freezing them
D Return To Top
Digital Rectal Examination (DRE): Insertion of a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to feel the prostate
E Return To Top
External Beam Radiation: Radiation therapy that uses a machine to aim high-energy rays at cancer cells to kill them (also called External Radiation)
G Return To Top
Gland: An organ that makes substances such as hormones, sweat, tears, or milk and releases them directly into the body
Gleason Score: A system of grading prostate cancer cells based on how they look under the microscope - a high Gleason score means the tumor is more likely to grow and spread than a tumor with a low Gleason score
H Return To Top
Histrelin: A testosterone-blocking agent that slows the growth of prostate cancer
Hormone Suppression Therapy: Treatment to prevent male hormones from stimulating further growth of prostate cancer (also called Hormone Reduction Therapy)
Hydrogel: A soft, flexible material, similar to a soft contact lens, that acts as a slow-release reservoir for histrelin
I Return To Top
Impotence: The inability to have or maintain an erection adequate for sexual intercourse (also called Erectile Dysfunction)
Incision: The cutting of skin at the start of a surgical procedure
L Return To Top
Localized Prostate Cancer: Cancer confined locally within the prostate
Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (LHRH): A hormone that stimulates production of testosterone by the testes
Lymph nodes: Small glands located throughout the body where immune cells gather to defend against microbes (such as bacteria)
M Return To Top
Malignant: Cancers that can invade and spread throughout the body
Metastasize: The spread of cancer cells from one part of the body to another
O Return To Top
Orchiectomy: Surgical removal of the testes
P Return To Top
Prostate: A walnut-size gland of the male reproductive system that produces semen
Prostate Cancer: Cancer of the prostate gland
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA): A substance produced by the prostate gland sometimes found in increased amounts in the blood of men with prostate cancer, infection or inflammation of the prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia
Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test: A blood test that measures the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
Prostatectomy: An operation to remove part (or all) of the prostate gland
R Return To Top
Radical Prostatectomy: Surgical removal of the entire prostate
Radiation Therapy: Use of radioactive material to destroy cancer cells
T Return To Top
Testosterone: A hormone needed for the development and maintenance of male sex characteristics
Transrectal Ultrasonography: An image of the prostate produced when a probe is inserted into the rectum and directs sound waves to the prostate
Tumor Grade: A labeling system indicating how quickly a cancer is growing and how a patient will respond to therapy
Tumor Stage: A labeling system describing the extent of cancer within the body—stages range from I, the most microscopic to IV, the most widespread
U Return To Top
Urologist: A surgeon who specializes in diseases of the urinary tract in men and women and the reproductive system of males
W Return To Top
Watchful Waiting: A treatment approach for localized, slow-growing prostate cancer that involves having regular checkups instead of immediate therapy
VANTAS is indicated in the palliative treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
VANTAS is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to GnRH, GnRH agonist analogs, or any components in VANTAS. VANTAS is contraindicated in women and pediatric patients and was not studied in women or children. VANTAS, like other LHRH agonists, causes a transient increase in serum concentration of testosterone during the first week of treatment. Patients may experience worsening of symptoms or onset of new symptoms including bone pain, neuropathy, hematuria, or ureteral or bladder outlet obstruction. Cases of ureteral obstruction and spinal cord compression, which may contribute to paralysis with or without fatal complications, have been reported with LHRH agonists. If spinal cord compression or renal impairment develops, standard treatment of these complications should be instituted.
The most common systemic side effects were hot flashes (65.5%), asthenia (9.9%), implant site reaction (5.8%), testicular atrophy (5.3%), and renal impairment (4.7%). Five of the 8 patients had only a single occurrence of mild renal impairment (defined as creatinine clearance  30 and < 60 mL/min), which returned to a normal range by the next visit. The most common local side effects were bruising (7.2%), and pain/soreness/tenderness (3.6%).
Once serum testosterone concentrations at or below castrate level ( 50 ng/dL) were achieved, a total of 4 patients (3%) demonstrated breakthrough during the study. In one patient, a serum testosterone level of 63.1 ng/dL was reported at week 44; this patient's serum testosterone level returned to 8.1 ng/dL at the next reading. In another patient, a serum testosterone level of 3,340 ng/dL was reported at week 40. This aberrant value was possibly related to lab error. In two patients, serum testosterone rose above castrate level and the implant could neither be palpated nor visualized with ultrasound.
Response to VANTAS should be monitored by measuring serum concentrations of testosterone and PSA periodically, especially if the anticipated clinical or biochemical response to treatment has not been achieved.
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