The drug treatment of prostate cancer was for many years based on androgen deprivation with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues.
This treatment still represents the standard first line treatment for advanced prostate cancer. In cases of progression to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) further treatment options used to be limited. Only the chemotherapy drug docetaxel could demonstrate a significant overall survival benefit. Within the last few years, however, five new treatments for patients with mCRCP have achieved significant results in large phase III trials. Interestingly they have different mechanisms of action: abiraterone is a testosterone synthesis inhibitor, enzalutamide is a novel antiandrogen, cabazitaxel is a cytotoxic drug, radium-223 is a radionuclide and sipuleucel-T an immunotherapy. Further new drugs are under investigation. The integration of these new treatment options as well as an optimal sequence and combination is the main focus of current research.
Written by:
Cathomas R. Are you the author?
Abteilung medizinische Onkologie, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Loestr. 170, 7000, Chur, Schweiz.
Reference: Internist (Berl). 2013 Jul 31. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1007/s00108-013-3334-4
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23896735
Article in German.
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