New Treatments, New Hope

Metastatic Prostate Cancer Treatment

The outlook for men with metastatic prostate cancer has mostly been bleak and desolate. Previously, therapy relied solely on an armamentarium of complete hormonal ablation followed by a sole chemotherapeutic option. After these options were exhausted patients were left with therapies yet to have proven survival benefit. Over the last year, the status of systemic therapy for metastatic prostate cancer has experienced a welcome boost in significant discoveries. These paradigm shifting therapeutics encompass the field of immunotherapeutics, hormonal manipulation, and even traditional chemotherapeutics and have served to bolster therapeutics and offer substantial improvements in morbidity and mortality.

Three significant randomized clinical trials were presented over the last year in prostate cancer. Each has shown significant survival advantage with minimal toxicity, creating three new options for our patients. Sipuleucel-T (PROVENGE) recently became the first FDA approved therapeutic cancer vaccine for hormone refractory metastatic prostate cancer. PROVENGE therapy consists of collecting a patient's own immune cells and stimulating them to attack foreign prostate cancer cells. By infusing these cells back into patients the power of the immune system is harnessed to control metastatic prostate cancer. Abiraterone, the second of these revolutionary drugs works by decreasing levels of androgens in the body further than levels achieved through traditional hormonal ablation. This is achieved by blocking the conversion of androgens (hormones) produced outside of the testes to testosterone. In randomized studies both PROVENGE and Abiraterone have each shown improvements in survival for metastatic prostate cancer. Finally Jevtanna, a traditional chemotherapeutic, was recently approved by the FDA as a second chemotherapeutic option. Most recently TAK 700, a similar drug to Abiraterone, has become available to prostate cancer patients through clinical trials.

We have been fortunate to offer these miraculous therapeutics to patients through the Prostate Oncology Program at The Angeles Clinic and Research Institute along with similar drugs that offer the same hope of future success. For patients, the future is now bright. Please contact us at (310) 231-2185 for further information.