I have written a lot about how we need more data about the many new drugs we have to treat men with advanced prostate cancer. The many questions that continue to swirl around us pertain to the development of cross resistance (taking one drug causes another to not work) between these new drugs, knowing the [...]
Over the past two to three years there have been some small studies that have indicated that the use of concomitant anticoagulants along with docetaxel (chemotherapy) may improve overall survival The most recent examination of this issue was performed by a team led by Emmanuel S. Antonarakis, MD, of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. They [...]
Abiraterone Acetate (Zytiga) and enzalutamide (Xtandi) are the newest generation hormonal agents. They both have demonstrated a survival advantage in men with castrate resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who have already been treated with docetaxel (chemotherapy). Unfortunately all men who are responsive to both of these drugs eventually become resistant. Some men are subject to early [...]
Sometimes some of us just simply decide that we will not start any treatment or continue a treatment protocol simply because we don’t want to have treatment. This type of decision is different from our deciding that a specific treatment has too many side effects for the potential upside it might provide. Researchers set out [...]
Chemotherapy using docetaxel remains an important therapy, despite the newly approved drugs, to treat hormone refractory prostate cancer. Chemotherapy improves survival, however, all men taking it will eventually become refractory to the treatment. Zoledronic acid (ZA) is the most potent member of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate family and has anti-tumor activity in prostate cancer. In a study, [...]
Popular culture tells us that primary androgen deprivation therapy with leuprorelin acetate (Lupron) will not work for longer than two years! This is a significant and very problematic statement given that all of us with metastatic prostate cancer rely on delaying the move to any other treatments, especially given their cost to the quality of [...]
What will happen when enzalutamide (Xtandi) is approved for use in advanced prostate cancer in the disease stage prior to chemotherapy (that is if it is approved)? Already occupying this space and already approved by the FDA is both Provenge and abiraterone (Zytiga). Where will Xtandi fit in? Until we have a lot more data, [...]
Prostate cancer is commonly associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The use of GnRH agonists or antagonists (first line ADT) is widely used as the primary treatment for advanced prostate cancer (pc) and/or to reduce prostate volume (TPV). It is thought that the ADT contributes to the development of LUTS. Researchers pooled multiple other [...]
Malecare was actively involved, along with its partners, in setting up the early access trial for enzalutamide (Xtandi). The trial was conducted after the final Phase 3 AFFIRM trial that was eventually used to obtain FDA approval had been stopped, but before the FDA and received the final submission of the data. Given the significant [...]
Want your insurance company to pay for next drunk? According to the FDA they in fact might be willing! All kidding aside, the FDA has issued a drug safety communication regarding the risk of intoxication with some of the intravenous generic prostate cancer chemotherapy (docetaxel) formulations containing ethanol. The drugs are marketed as generic docetaxel [...]
