Stages, types and grades of prostate cancer

Locally advanced prostate cancer

Locally advanced prostate cancer means that the cancer has broken through the capsule (covering) of the prostate gland. It may have spread into the:

tissue around the prostate
the tubes that carry semen - these are the seminal vesicles
body organs nearby such as the back passage or bladder
close to the prostate gland

Doctors use the Cambridge Prognostic Group (CPG) to divide prostate cancer into 5 prognostic groups. This tells you how likely it is that your cancer will grow or spread.

In the TNM staging system, locally advanced prostate cancer is the same as T3 or T4. Below is a simplified description of the T3 and T4 stage:

T3 means the cancer has broken through the capsule (covering) of the prostate gland.

T4 means the cancer has spread into other body organs nearby, such as the back passage, bladder, or the pelvic wall.

Diagram showing locally advanced prostate cancer.

Find out more about TNM staging

We have a separate page about prostate cancer that is contained within the prostate gland. This is also called localised prostate cancer.

Read about localised prostate cancer

Last reviewed: 06 Jun 2025

Next review due: 06 Jun 2028

Grade Groups or Gleason score

The Grade Group gives your doctor an idea of how the cancer might behave and what treatment you need. This is also known as the Gleason score.

Localised prostate cancer

Localised prostate cancer is cancer that is completely inside the prostate gland.

TNM staging for prostate cancer

The TNM staging is a way of describing how far prostate cancer has grown. It stands for Tumour, Node, Metastasis.

Treatment for prostate cancer

You may have a choice of treatments such as surgery or radiotherapy. Or your doctor might suggest that they monitor your cancer instead of treatment straight away.

Prostate cancer risk groups and the Cambridge Prognostic Group (CPG)

Doctors group prostate cancer into risk groups. In the UK, they now use the Cambridge Prognostic Group (CPG) system that divides prostate cancer into 5 risk groups.

Prostate cancer main page

Prostate cancer is cancer that starts in the prostate gland. The prostate gland is found at the base of the bladder and is about the size of a walnut.