Stages, types and grades of 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.
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
In the UK, doctors now use the Cambridge Prognostic Group (CPG) for locally advanced prostate cancer. This divides prostate cancer into 5 prognostic groups.
The term prognostic refers to your outlook ( ). So your prognostic group tells you how likely it is that your cancer will grow or spread. And how likely it is that you will die from your cancer. This helps your doctor recommend if you need treatment, and the type of treatment you need.
There are 5 risk groups. These are from CPG 1 to CPG 5.
Your group depends on:
your Grade Group or Gleason score
the prostate specific antigen (PSA) level
how far the cancer has grown in your prostate - this is the T stage
Ask your doctor or specialist nurse if you have any questions about this.
We have more information about the Cambridge Prognostic Groups (CPG)
If your cancer has spread
When prostate cancer spreads to another part of your body, it is called metastatic prostate cancer. Doctors don't use prognostic groups for prostate cancer that has spread.
Treatment for locally advanced prostate cancer depends on your prognostic group. It also depends on a number of things such as:
your age and general health
how you feel about the treatments and side effects
Your doctor usually recommends you have treatment. Treatment might include:
surgery to remove your prostate - this is called a prostatectomy
with or without
internal radiotherapy - this is called
Last reviewed: 06 Jun 2025
Next review due: 06 Jun 2028
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 is cancer that is completely inside the prostate gland.
The TNM staging is a way of describing how far prostate cancer has grown. It stands for Tumour, Node, Metastasis.
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.
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 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.
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