What Is Known About the Causes of Prostate Cancer, as of 2026?

The available material does not explain the specific causes of prostate cancer (genetic, hormonal, or environmental factors), so we cannot provide a well-founded answer to this question. That said, the material does cover the factors used for diagnosis and risk-group classification.

Key Summary

• The source material does not explain the specific mechanisms behind what causes prostate cancer (genetic, hormonal, or environmental factors), so we're unable to provide a well-founded answer to this particular question.
• However, the factors used for diagnosis and risk-group classification are covered in the material: PSA level, Gleason score (Grade Group 1 through 5), and stage (whether the tumor has invaded through the prostate capsule, involves the seminal vesicles or nearby organs, or has spread to lymph nodes) are combined to classify cases into low-risk, intermediate-risk, high-risk, and metastatic categories.
• The 5-year relative survival rate for prostate cancer in Korea is 96.9% (National Cancer Registration Statistics 2019–2023, Central Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center Korea) — this is a nationwide figure, not the result from any specific hospital.
• Because prostate cancer often progresses slowly, active surveillance (monitoring without immediate treatment) is included among the standard options for low-risk cases.

What actually causes prostate cancer?

• The material provided does not include an explanation of the causes or risk factors of prostate cancer (such as age, genetics, hormones, or family history, or the specific mechanisms involved). For that reason, we cannot give a detailed, evidence-based answer about causation based solely on this material.
• What the material does describe is that prostate cancer tends to progress slowly in many cases, and that widespread use of the PSA blood test has increased the proportion of cases diagnosed at a localized stage (National Cancer Registration Statistics 2019–2023). This, however, is a point about the timing of diagnosis, not about underlying causes.
• For information specific to your own risk factors or the exact cause in your case, please consult with your treating physician.

What is the typical diagnostic sequence?

• Step 1: If PSA levels are elevated or a digital rectal exam shows abnormalities, a prostate MRI is typically obtained first.
• Step 2: If the MRI reveals a suspicious area, an MRI-fusion targeted biopsy of that specific spot is performed to obtain the Gleason score and Grade Group (1 through 5) — higher Grade Groups indicate more aggressive cancer.
• Step 3: MRI is used to check whether the tumor has invaded the prostate capsule; for higher-risk cases, a bone scan or PSMA PET is added to check for spread to bone or lymph nodes.
• Step 4: PSA level, Grade Group, and stage are combined to determine the risk group (low-risk, intermediate-risk, high-risk, or metastatic), and this risk group is considered together with the patient's age, life expectancy, and other health conditions to decide on a treatment direction.
• Step 5: For low-risk cases, active surveillance with regularly scheduled testing is a standard option; otherwise, surgery, radiation therapy, or hormone therapy are considered.

FAQ — Does the 96.9% survival rate reflect a specific hospital's outcomes?

No. This is not the outcome data of any particular hospital but a nationwide statistic for all of Korea (National Cancer Registration Statistics 2019–2023, Central Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center Korea). By comparison, the U.S. SEER figure for 2016–2022 is 98.2%. Both figures are national averages and are not meant to predict any individual patient's outcome. Under Korean medical law, hospitals are not permitted to use their own outcome statistics in advertising.

FAQ — How does treatment differ by risk group?

For low-risk cases (low PSA, lowest Grade Group, small tumor confined within the prostate), active surveillance is the standard option. For intermediate-risk cases, both surgery and radiation therapy are standard. For high-risk or locally advanced cases, surgery is typically combined with pelvic lymph node dissection plus additional radiation, or radiation is combined with several years of hormone therapy. For metastatic disease, hormone therapy forms the backbone of treatment, and it has become standard to combine it from the outset with anti-androgen agents or chemotherapy.

Sources and Notes

• This article was written based on National Cancer Registration Statistics 2019–2023 (Central Cancer Registry, National Cancer Center Korea), U.S. SEER data 2016–2022, the National Cancer Information Center of the National Cancer Center Korea, and NCCN patient guidelines. Specific information on the causes of prostate cancer was not included in the source material and was therefore excluded from this answer.
• This content is intended for general medical information purposes only. Diagnostic and treatment approaches, as well as outcomes, may vary depending on individual circumstances. Accurate diagnosis and treatment decisions should always be made in consultation with your treating physician.