Developments in Prostate Cancer Treatment

Shorter-term Hormone Therapy

For patients with high-risk prostate cancer, the current recommended duration of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), also known as hormone therapy, is 24-36 months. However, researchers at the annual Genitourinary Cancers Symposium compared patients treated with ADT for 18 and 36 months and found no significant differences in overall and cancer-specific survival. The 10-year overall survival rates were 63.2% for men treated for 18 months and 63.6% for men treated for 36 months. The 10-year cancer-specific survival rates were 87.2% for both groups of men. Reducing the amount of time on ADT could lower the cost of treatment and help men who experience unpleasant side effects.

Enzalutamide (Xtandi) Trial for Pre-Chemotherapy Treatment

There is an updated interim analysis plan for a global phase 3 clinical trial evaluating enzalutamide (Xtandi) capsules in men with metastatic castrationresistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have not had chemotherapy. Enzalutamide (Xtandi) is an oral, once-daily androgen receptor inhibitor that can interfere with the actions of androgens produced by prostate cancer cells. It has significantly prolonged the survival of men with mCRPC after chemotherapy.

Bone Metastases Treatment with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

New treatments may offer hope to patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and bone metastases. Radium-223 and cabozantinib treatments will be covered in the next issue of QUEST.