Prostate cancer incidence, mortality, total and free prostate specific antigen.

The causes of prostate cancer (PC) and its progression are not yet known. Mortality and incidence from PC has increased throughout European countries until early 1990s. In Greece, PC is the second commonest cancer in men after lung cancer. The traditional Greek diet old in its origin may protect against common chronic diseases, including PC. Hormonal causes have been postulated in the aetiology of PC, mainly because androgen ablation causes regression of PC. Total and free prostate specific antigen (PSA and fPSA) screening were introduced to detect PC at an early stage, to reduce PC specific mortality, differentiate PC from hypertrophy and monitor response after hormonal treatment in advanced PC.