Joe Biden prostate cancer diagnosis: What a Gleason score of 9 means?

Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer

Updated on: May 19, 2025, 04:52:28 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Former President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, his office announced. The 82-year-old was examined last week after he experienced urinary symptoms, according to a statement Sunday from spokesperson Kelly Scully. The cancer had metastasized to the bone.

Joe Biden was diagnosed with prostate cancer (AP)

“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,” Scully said. “The president and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”

The press release noted a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) and metastasis to the bone. Below is an explanation of what a Gleason score of 9 means in the context of this diagnosis.

What is a Gleason Score?

The Gleason score is a grading system used to assess the aggressiveness of prostate cancer based on the appearance of cancer cells under a microscope. It ranges from 6 to 10, with higher scores indicating more aggressive cancer. A score of 9 is among the highest, signifying a highly aggressive form.

Score Breakdown: A Gleason score of 9 typically combines two patterns, such as 4+5 or 5+4, where the first number represents the most common cell pattern and the second the secondary pattern. Pattern 5 indicates the most abnormal, least differentiated cells, suggesting rapid cancer growth.

Grade Group 5: A Gleason score of 9 corresponds to Grade Group 5, the highest risk category, indicating a cancer that is likely to grow and spread quickly, per the American Cancer Society.

Metastasis to Bone: The diagnosis includes bone metastasis, meaning the cancer has spread beyond the prostate to the skeletal system, a hallmark of advanced-stage (Stage IV) prostate cancer. This complicates treatment and worsens prognosis, per Mayo Clinic.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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