[Diagnostic of prostate cancer: conventional and molecular or cell biological methods]

At present the diagnosis of prostate cancer is carried out by transrectally obtained biopsy samples. The histological findings, the value for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the serum, and the clinical stage are the objective criteria for all subsequent therapy decisions. In over 95% of cases an acinar "usual" form of prostate cancer is diagnosed but can be very different in characteristics and differentiation. In order to correctly assess prostate cancer and to be able to select the best possible therapeutic measures resulting from the diagnosis, all information obtained from the biopsy must be used to a maximum. The demands on the optimal biopsy findings have considerably expanded in recent years. It must be able to obtain all additional biological, molecular and genetic findings from the biopsy material.