Numerical & Symbol-Based

2D-CRT: Two-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (an older form of radiation therapy)
3D-CRT: Three-Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy (a more targeted radiation therapy)
5-AR: 5-Alpha Reductase, an enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone)
5-ARI: 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor, a medication (e.g., finasteride) that blocks 5-AR

A

Abi: Abiraterone
ADC: Antibody Drug Conjugate
ADPC: Androgen-Dependent Prostate Cancer (prostate cancer cells that grow in the presence of androgens)
ADR: Adverse Drug Reaction 
ADT: Androgen Deprivation Therapy (treatment that reduces androgen levels to slow cancer growth)
AE: Adverse Event (any unfavorable health occurrence during or after treatment)
AI: Aromatase Inhibitor (class of drugs more common in breast cancer but sometimes relevant in hormone management)
ALP: Alkaline Phosphatase (blood test marker often checked for bone involvement)
ALT: Alanine Aminotransferase (liver enzyme tested in blood panels)
ANA: Anti-Nuclear Antibody (an autoimmune marker sometimes relevant in overall health assessments)
ANC: Absolute Neutrophil Count (measure of infection-fighting white blood cells)
Apa: Apalutamide
APCa: Advanced Prostate Cancer (umbrella term for prostate cancers beyond early stage)
AR: Androgen Receptor
ARPi: Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitor
ARSI: Androgen Receptor Signaling Inhibitor
ARTA: Androgen Receptor Targeted Agent
AS: Active Surveillance (monitoring low-risk prostate cancer with tests and exams rather than immediate treatment)
ASCO: American Society of Clinical Oncology (professional organization for oncologists)
ASTRO: American Society for Radiation Oncology (professional organization for radiation oncologists)
AUA: American Urological Association (professional organization focusing on urologic health)

 

B

BAT: Bipolar Androgen Therapy
BBB: Blood-Brain Barrier (general biology term; relevant for drug delivery issues)
BBT: Brachy Boost Therapy
BCG: Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (a live attenuated bacterium used in immunotherapy, primarily for bladder cancer but known in urologic contexts)
BCR: Biochemical Recurrence (rise in PSA after treatment indicating possible cancer return)
BiTE: Bispecific T-cell Engager
BPH: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate)
BRCA: BReast CAncer gene (BRCA1/2 mutations can be relevant in hereditary prostate cancer)
BX: Biopsy (procedure to remove tissue for examination)

 

C

CAB: Combined Androgen Blockade (use of multiple hormone-suppressing therapies together)
CAD: Coronary Artery Disease (common comorbidity to monitor in prostate cancer patients)
CAM: Complementary and Alternative Medicine (non-mainstream therapies sometimes used alongside standard care)
Cancer Academy: eLearning Platform for cancer patients
CAR-T: Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cells
CBC: Complete Blood Count (routine blood test measuring red/white cells and platelets)
CD: Cluster of Differentiation (markers on the surface of immune cells, e.g., CD4, CD8)
CEA: Carcinoembryonic Antigen (tumor marker more common in other cancers but occasionally referenced)
CI: Confidence Interval (statistical measure in research studies)
CK: Cytokeratin (proteins tested in certain pathology evaluations)
CLL: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (not prostate-related but a general hematological malignancy)
CMP: Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (blood test measuring organ function)
CNS: Central Nervous System (brain and spinal cord)
CR: Complete Response (disappearance of all signs of cancer)
CRPC: Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (prostate cancer that continues growing despite low testosterone levels)
CRT: Conformal Radiation Therapy (radiation shaped to match the tumor)
CT: Computed Tomography (imaging method often used to look for metastases)

D

DHT: Dihydrotestosterone (a potent androgen linked to prostate growth)
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid (genetic material)
DRE: Digital Rectal Exam (physical exam to check prostate size/texture)
DSD: Disease-Specific Death (mortality directly attributed to a particular disease)
DSUR: Development Safety Update Report (regulatory document for investigational drugs)
DX: Diagnosis (shorthand in clinical documentation)

E

EBRT: External Beam Radiation Therapy (commonly used form of radiation for prostate cancer)
EGFR: Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (protein that can be targeted in certain cancers)
EMA: European Medicines Agency (regulatory body)
Enza: Enzalutamide
EP: Etoposide and Cisplatin (chemotherapy regimen, more common in other cancers but relevant in some cases)
ESRD: End-Stage Renal Disease (comorbidity concern for overall patient health)
ESUR: European Society of Urogenital Radiology (promotes urogenital imaging standards)

F

FAPi: Fibroblast Activation Protein Inhibitor
FDA: Food and Drug Administration (U.S. regulatory body overseeing drug approvals)
FDG: (fluoro-deoxy-glucose PET scan
FFPE: Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (method of preserving biopsy samples)
FFS: Failure-Free Survival (time during which no treatment failures occur)
FN: False Negative (test result indicates no disease when disease is present)
FP: False Positive (test result indicates disease when no disease is present)
FSH: Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (helps regulate the reproductive system; can be relevant in hormone therapy)
FT: Free Testosterone (portion of testosterone not bound to proteins in the blood)

G

GF: Growth Factor (proteins that stimulate cell growth, e.g., VEGF, EGF)
GLP: Good Laboratory Practice (quality system for non-clinical research labs)
GnRH: Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (hormone controlling release of LH and FSH)
GRADE: Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (system for rating quality of evidence)
G-CSF: Granulocyte Colony Stimulating Factor
GTV: Gross Tumor Volume (the visible or palpable extent of a tumor on imaging)

H

Hb: Hemoglobin (oxygen-carrying molecule in red blood cells)
HCT: Hematocrit (proportion of red blood cells in blood)
hCG: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hormone occasionally relevant in certain cancers)
HDR: High-Dose-Rate Brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy with high-intensity radioactive sources)
HIFU: High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (local therapy that uses heat to destroy prostate tissue)
HRT: Hormone Replacement Therapy (more commonly associated with menopause but referenced in hormone discussions)

I

i: Inhibitor
ICI: Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (a type of immunotherapy)
IGRT: Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (radiation therapy guided by real-time imaging)
IL-2: Interleukin-2 (cytokine used in some immunotherapy approaches)
IMRT: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (advanced radiation delivery tailored to the tumor shape)
IND: Investigational New Drug (FDA classification allowing experimental drug use in trials)
IO: Immuno-Oncology (field focusing on harnessing the immune system to fight cancer)
IPSS: International Prostate Symptom Score (questionnaire to evaluate urinary symptoms)

J

JCO: Journal of Clinical Oncology (leading peer-reviewed oncology journal; often cited in research)

K

KPS: Karnofsky Performance Status (scale measuring patient’s ability to carry out daily activities)

L

LAR: Long-Acting Release (drug formulation allowing gradual release)
LDR: Low Dose Rate (LDR) brachytherapy
LH: Luteinizing Hormone (works with FSH for gonadal function)
LHRH: Luteinizing Hormone-Releasing Hormone (synonymous with GnRH)
LND: Lymph Node Dissection (surgical removal of lymph nodes for examination)
LOH: Loss of Heterozygosity (genetic event often studied in cancer research)
LP: Lumbar Puncture (spinal tap, typically not a main prostate test but general diagnostic tool)
Lu-177: Lutetium Lu 177 dotatate or Lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan

M

mCRPC: Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (advanced PC that continues to grow despite ADT)
MDT: Multidisciplinary Team (collaboration of specialists: oncologist, urologist, radiologist, etc.)
MDT: Metastasis-directed Therapy
MI: Myocardial Infarction (heart attack; relevant comorbidity)
MoAb: Monoclonal Antibody (engineered antibodies targeting specific cancer antigens)
MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (common imaging modality for prostate cancer staging)
mHSPC: Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer (advanced PC still responsive to hormone therapy)
mPC: Metastatic Prostate Cancer (prostate cancer that has spread to other body parts)

 

N

NaF18: Sodium Fluoride PET scan
NCCN: National Comprehensive Cancer Network (organization creating clinical practice guidelines)
NCI: National Cancer Institute (major U.S. government-funded cancer research institute)
NED: No Evidence of Disease (no sign of cancer after treatment)
NGS: Next-Generation Sequencing (advanced genetic testing methods)
NIH: National Institutes of Health (U.S. medical research agency)
NR: Not Reported / No Response (commonly used in clinical trial results)
non-mCRPC: Non-Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
NSCLC: Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (not prostate but a common cancer acronym in oncology)

O

ODAC: Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee (FDA committee reviewing cancer drugs)
omHSPC: Oligometastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer
OR: Odds Ratio (statistical measure in research)
ORR: Objective Response Rate (percentage of patients in a trial who have a partial or complete response)
OS: Overall Survival (time from study entry or diagnosis to death from any cause)
OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (oversees workplace health/safety, including chemo handling)

P

PAC: Prostate Adenocarcinoma (most common type of prostate cancer)
PARPi: Poly-ADP Ribose Polymerase Inhibitor
PD: Progressive Disease (cancer that is growing/spreading)
PD-1: Programmed Death-1 (immune checkpoint protein targeted by some immunotherapies)
PD-L1: Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (ligand for PD-1, also targeted by immunotherapies)
PET: Positron Emission Tomography (imaging scan often combined with CT or PSMA tracers for prostate)
PF: Progression-Free (having no disease progression)
PFS: Progression-Free Survival (time a patient lives without progression)
PHI: Prostate Health Index (combines PSA measures to refine cancer risk assessment)
PI-RADS: Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (standardized scoring system for MRI findings)
PIN: Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia (possible precursor to invasive prostate cancer)
PLND: Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection (surgical procedure often done during radical prostatectomy)
PMC: PubMed Central (free full-text archive of biomedical literature)
PSA: Prostate-Specific Antigen (key blood test marker for prostate cancer)
PSAV: PSA Velocity (rate at which PSA levels change over time)
PSMA: Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (protein targeted by certain imaging and treatments)

Q

QALY: Quality-Adjusted Life Year (measure used in health economics to assess value of medical interventions)
QoL: Quality of Life (patient’s overall well-being and ability to perform daily tasks)

R

RARP: Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate using robotic technology)
RCT: Randomized Controlled Trial (gold-standard method for testing treatments)
RECIST: Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (standard for measuring tumor response in trials)
RFS: Recurrence-Free Survival (time after initial therapy without cancer recurrence)
RNA: Ribonucleic Acid (molecule involved in gene expression; studied in cancer genomics)
RP: Radical Prostatectomy (complete surgical removal of the prostate)
RTOG: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (merged into NRG Oncology; designs clinical trials)

S

SBRT: Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (highly focused radiation in fewer sessions)
SCC: Squamous Cell Carcinoma (cancer type; not typical for prostate but part of oncology acronyms)
SE: Side Effect (undesirable effect of treatment)
SHBG: Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (protein that binds testosterone)
SNP: Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (common genetic variation)
SOC: Standard of Care (generally accepted best practice or treatment)
SRE: Skeletal-Related Event (complications such as fractures due to bone metastases)

T

TURP: Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (common procedure to relieve urinary symptoms or obtain tissue)
TNM: Tumor, Node, Metastasis (cancer staging system)
TRUS: Transrectal Ultrasound (used for prostate imaging and guiding biopsies)
TRUSP: Transrectal Ultrasound-Guided Prostate Biopsy (standard method of obtaining prostate tissue)
TTF: Time to Treatment Failure (time until a given treatment no longer works)
TTP: Time to Progression (time until cancer measurably worsens)

U

UA: Urinalysis (common test for infection or hematuria)
UC: Urothelial Carcinoma (cancer arising from urinary tract lining)
ULN: Upper Limit of Normal (lab result reference)
US: Ultrasound (imaging modality)
USPSTF: United States Preventive Services Task Force (issues screening guidelines, including PSA screening)
UTI: Urinary Tract Infection (common infection that can mimic or coexist with prostate issues)

V

VEGF: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (key target in some anti-angiogenic therapies)
vPSA: PSA Velocity (alternative abbreviation for the rate of PSA increase)
VTE: Venous Thromboembolism (blood clots in veins, a possible complication in cancer patients)

W

WBC: White Blood Cell (immune cell type counted in a CBC)
WHO: World Health Organization (international public health agency)

X

XRT: X-Ray Therapy or Radiotherapy (older abbreviation for radiation treatment)

Y

Yttrium-90: A radioisotope sometimes used in targeted radiotherapy for certain cancers

Z

ZA: Zoledronic Acid (medication to reduce bone-related complications in metastatic prostate cancer)