Types of prostate cancer

The type of prostate cancer tells you which type of cell the cancer started in. The prostate is made of different types of cells. So there are different types of prostate cancer. The most common type is adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

Rare types of prostate cancer include:

• neuroendocrine prostate cancers - the more common type is small cell prostate cancer
• squamous cell prostate cancer
• transitional cell prostate cancer - also called urothelial carcinoma of the prostate
• sarcoma of the prostate
• lymphoma of the prostate

You might have more than one type of prostate cancer at the same time. For example, adenocarcinoma mixed with a rare type of prostate cancer.

Rare types of prostate cancer can be difficult to diagnose and may grow quickly and spread. Treatment is often different to the treatment for more common prostate cancers.

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate

Adenocarcinomas develop in the gland cells. These line the prostate gland and the tubes (ducts) of the prostate gland. Gland cells make prostate fluid.

Adenocarcinomas are the most common type of prostate cancer. Nearly everyone with prostate cancer has this type. 

There are 2 types of adenocarcinoma of the prostate:

Acinar adenocarcinoma of the prostate

Most people have this type. It develops in the gland cells that line the prostate gland.

Ductal adenocarcinoma of the prostate

Ductal adenocarcinoma starts in the cells that line the ducts of the prostate gland. It tends to grow and spread more quickly than acinar adenocarcinoma.

Neuroendocrine cancer of the prostate

These cancers develop from neuroendocrine cells in the prostate. There are different types including small cell and large cell neuroendocrine cancers. The more common type is small cell prostate cancer.

Small cell prostate cancer

Small cell prostate cancer tends to grow faster than other types of prostate cancer. Doctors also call it small cell carcinoma. Most small cell prostate cancers have spread to other parts of the body by the time they are diagnosed. This is metastatic prostate cancer..

Squamous cell prostate cancers

These cancers develop from flat cells that cover the prostate. They tend to grow and spread more quickly than adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

There are different types of squamous cell prostate cancers. These include basal cell prostate cancer. You might also hear this called adenoid cystic (basal cell) carcinoma of the prostate. It is very rare.

Transitional cell carcinoma of the prostate

Transitional cell carcinoma of the prostate starts in the cells lining the urethra. This type of cancer usually starts in the bladder and spreads into the prostate. But rarely it can start in the prostate and may spread into the bladder entrance and nearby tissues.

This is sometimes called urothelial carcinoma of the prostate.

Other rarer types of prostate cancers

Other rarer cancers can develop in the prostate, these include:

• sarcoma

• lymphoma

The treatment for lymphomas and sarcoma is different to prostate cancer treatment.