Pathobiology of the human prostate

Most disorders of the prostate are a result of a loss of essential growth control. The three main pathologies associated with this multifunctional but non‐essential gland – prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma – are thought to originate in the central, transitional and peripheral zones, respectively. Professor Maitland outlines factors that affect the development of prostate cancer and discusses the stem cell hypothesis, which provides explanations for the relative resistance of the tumours to most types of conventional therapy, and for the presence of residual disease after androgen therapy. Copyright © 2008 Wiley Interface Ltd