Contents
Last IPCSG Meeting Summary
NOVEMBER 17 - Dr. Richard Lam
NEW ADVANCES - A board-certified internist and
oncologist, Richard Lam, MD is the director of clinical research has been
specializing full time at Prostate Oncology Specialists in the treatment of
prostate cancer since 2001.
Dr. Lam has written numerous articles based on his
research and is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology
and the American Society of Hematology. Dr. Lam continues to promote prostate
cancer awareness and education by giving lectures at various medical
conferences and prostate support groups throughout the country. He is
particularly interested in utilizing state-of-the-art therapeutics for advanced
prostate cancer.
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Next IPCSG Meeting Speaker
JANUARY 19, 2019 Advances in Radiation Therapy
Dr. A.J. Mundt is an internationally-recognized academic radiation oncologist and educator whose career has focused on the development and implementation of novel radiation technologies in a wide number of malignancies. He is the founding Chair of the UC San Diego (UCSD) Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences and serves as Senior Deputy Director of the UCSD Moores NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
An author of over 180 journal articles
and book chapters, predominantly focused on advanced radiation technologies,
Dr. Mundt has edited 3 academic textbooks, two devoted to intensity-modulated
radiotherapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) with over 100
contributors from the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. He has delivered
over 250 invited lectures at cancer symposia and conferences throughout the
United States, Europe, South America and Asia, and has been a Visiting
Professor at over 20 Universities and Cancer Centers.
Dr. Mundt last briefed us in January
2018 on Radiation Therapy
for Prostate Cancer: The State of the Art in 2018. Topics discussed were
“Halcyon” machine, Active Surveillance, Brachytherapy and the "Physics
Direct Patient Care Initiative".and are described in the Feb
2018 Newsletter.
What a great way to start off the
new year with a presentation of the advances in the field of radiation
oncology.
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www.medscape.com
Combination Strategy Improves Identification of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancers
By Reuters Staff, January 05, 2019
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Combining
visual-registration and image-fusion biopsy targeting strategies provides the
highest rate of detecting clinically significant prostate cancers, according to
results from the SmartTarget biopsy trial.
Multiparametric MRI improves the diagnostic
sensitivity for clinically significant prostate cancer while reducing the
overdetection of clinically insignificant cancer, but it remains unclear which
MRI-targeted biopsy method is best.
Dr. Hashim U. Ahmed of the Faculty of Medicine at
University College London and colleagues sought to determine whether visual
registration (mentally translating MRI targets onto real-time ultrasound
images) is sufficient or whether it needs augmentation with image-fusion
software.
Among 129 men who underwent both visual-registration
and image-fusion biopsies, 93 (72%) had clinically significant prostate cancer
(Gleason pattern of 3 or higher + 4 = 7) using both biopsy strategies.
Each strategy alone detected 80 of these significant
cancers, with each method identifying 13 cancers that the other missed, so that
the combination of the methods resulted in a 14% improvement in the detection
of clinically significant prostate cancer.
Results were similar using an alternative definition
of clinically significant prostate cancer (Gleason pattern of 4 or higher + 3 =
7), the researchers report in European Urology, online December 6.
The safety profiles were similar with the two biopsy
strategies, and there were no significant differences in patient-reported
outcome scores.
"Both strategies missed clinically significant cancers
detected by the other strategy and so should be used in combination to optimize
cancer detection," the researchers conclude.
"A cost-benefit analysis is a complex question
beyond this study's scope," they add. "However, our results suggest
potential benefits of a faster learning curve and higher repeatability that may
enable less experienced centers to increase throughput and achieve cancer
detection rates equivalent to those of highly experienced centers."
Several of the authors report financial ties to
SmartTarget Ltd., which is commercializing the image guidance device used in
this study.
Dr. Ahmed did not respond to a request for comments.
SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2Ts4EXO
Eur Urol 2018.
Reuters Health Information © 2019
Cite this article: Combination Strategy Improves
Identification of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancers - Medscape - Jan 03,
2019.
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Surgery and Adjuvant RT Show Superiority in Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer
Caroline Seymour
Grace Lu-Yao, PhD
Higher survival rates were observed with radical prostatectomy (RP) and
adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) compared with radiotherapy and androgen deprivation
therapy (ADT) in men with locally advanced prostate cancer, according to a
comparative analysis published in Cancer.1,2
Results showed that 10 years after treatment, 89% of men who received
radical prostatectomy and RT were still alive, compared with 74% of those who
received RT and ADT, demonstrating a 15% survival benefit in the prostatectomy
arm. The coprimary endpoints were prostate cancer–specific survival and overall
survival (OS), both of which were improved in the prostatectomy/RT arm,
regardless of tumor stage or Gleason score.
“There is a lot of debate about whether to remove the whole prostate and
follow up with radiation therapy,” senior author Grace Lu-Yao, PhD, associate
director of Population Science at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, said in a
statement. “Or, as a second option, to spare the prostate and treat it using
radiation therapy plus hormone-blocking therapy. Our study suggests that
removing the prostate followed by adjuvant radiotherapy is associated with
greater overall survival in men with prostate cancer.”
The analysis compiled data from the SEER database from 1992 to 2009 of
men older than 65 years old who were diagnosed with locally or regionally
advanced prostate cancer and had received either radical prostatectomy/RT or
RT/ADT. Additional exclusion criteria included a history of previous
malignancy; stage T1/T2, in situ, or M1 disease; distant lymph node
involvement; Health Maintenance Organization coverage during the 6 months
following diagnosis; no Part A or B Medicare coverage during the 6 months after
diagnosis; indiscernible treatment; and primary chemotherapy.
Men who had received surgery that was not considered curative were
excluded from the prostatectomy/RT group. This included cryotherapy, subtotal
prostatectomy, and transurethral resection of the prostate. The study defined adjuvant
RT as RT received within 6 months after RP. RT/ADT was defined as ADT given 2
months prior to receiving RT until anytime 3 years after RT.
Among men who received prostatectomy/RT, >55.7% were aged 65 to 69,
9.6% were aged 75 to 79, and <1 .3="" 80="" aged="" older="" or="" were="" whereas="">26.7%
of men who received RT/ADT were aged 65 to 69, 26.1% were 75 to 79, and 13.5%
were aged 80 or older (P < .0001).
Of the 13,856 men eligible for evaluation, 6.1% (n = 848) received
prostatectomy/RT versus 23.6% (n = 3272) who received RT/ADT. Among men who
received RT after prostatectomy, 29.8% (n = 253) also received concurrent ADT.
Comorbidity index scores of 0 (90.1% and 79.2%), 1 (7.8% and 13.7%), and ≥2 (2.1% and 7.1%) were attributed to patients who received prostatectomy/RT
as opposed to RT/ADT (P < .0001).
Patients were staged according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer
criteria, and comparison groups were matched by age, race, and comorbidity.
Propensity score methods were used to account for differences between treatment
arms. The 10-year survival analyses were conducted with the Kaplan-Meier method
and Cox proportional hazards models. Prostate-specific antigen data were
excluded from all analyses.
The adjusted 10-year survival advantage seemed to favor those without
lymph node metastasis, though men with high-risk disease that was not localized
still seemed to derive benefit from prostatectomy/RT (T3a/bN0M0, 88.9%;
T3a/bN1M0, 75.7%; T4N0M0, 72%) over RT/ADT (T3a/bN0M0, 74.2%; T3a/bN1M0,
58.6%%; T4N0M0, 60.5%).
The prevalence of treatment-associated adverse events served as a
secondary endpoint of the study. Higher rates of erectile dysfunction (28.3% vs
20.4%; P = .0212) and urinary incontinence (49.1% vs 19.4%; P < .001) were
seen with prostatectomy/RT versus RT/ADT, respectively. Additionally, men on
the prostatectomy arm were more likely to undergo procedures to address urinary
incontinence (12.4% vs 1.6%; P = .0007) and erectile dysfunction (8.4% vs 3.7%;
P = .0186). Higher rates of bladder neck contractures (37.6% vs 18.3%; P <
.0001) and corrective procedures (34.3% vs 12.8%; P < .0001 were also
observed in men who received prostatectomy/RT compared with RT/ADT.
Rates of acute myocardial infarction, sudden cardiac death, coronary
artery disease, thromboembolic events, skeletal fractures, and osteoporosis
were similar between groups.
“Prostatectomy is an unpopular treatment,” said Lu-Yao. “Our study showed
that only 6% of men with high-risk cancer were treated with it. It’s not just
the risk of side effects. For some men, especially those who are not fit enough
for the surgery, prostatectomy is not an option. However, this may be an option
for some patients to reconsider.”
Moving forward, the authors noted there should be a surgical arm in
future clinical trials for men with high-risk prostate cancer in addition to
prospective trial data to confirm these findings.
References
Jefferson University Hospitals
(2018). Combination therapy of prostatectomy plus radiotherapy may improve
survival in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. Published September
25, 2018. https://bit.ly/2P1Doxt. Accessed 4 Oct. 2018.
Jang TL, Patel N, Faiena I, et
al. Comparative effectiveness of radical prostatectomy with adjuvant
radiotherapy versus radiotherapy plus androgen deprivation therapy for men with
advanced prostate cancer [published online September 25, 2018]. Cancer. doi:
10.1002/cncr.31726.
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Radiotherapy Shows Benefit in Select Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Brandon Scalea
Chris Parker, MD
Radiotherapy should be a standard treatment option for
patients with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer who have a low
metastatic burden, said Chris Parker, MD.
In the multi-arm, phase III STAMPEDE trial, one arm of which
was presented at the 2018 ESMO Congress, patients were randomized to receive
either the standard of care or the standard of care plus radiotherapy. Standard
treatment consisted of lifelong androgen deprivation therapy or docetaxel, and
radiotherapy began ≤8 weeks after randomization or the introduction
of docetaxel. The primary endpoints of the trial were failure-free survival
(FFS) and overall survival (OS).
In the general cohort, radiotherapy improved FFS (HR, 0.68;
95% CI, 0.68-0.84), but not OS (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.80-1.06). However, in a
subgroup analysis of patients with low metastatic burden (n = 819), OS was
improved by 32% (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.52-0.90).
Additionally, there was no benefit observed in patients with
high metastatic burden (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.90-1.28).
In an interview with OncLive, Parker, who is the lead author
of the study and a consultant clinical oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS
Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom, discussed the clinical implications of
STAMPEDE and how radiotherapy fits into the treatment paradigm for these
patients.
OncLive: Please provide some background to this study.
Parker: Men with metastatic prostate cancer have always been
managed with systemic treatment only. They have not had specific treatment of
the prostate unless they had symptoms of progressive disease. In terms of
radiation therapy and surgery, it was palliation only. In some preclinical
models, it looks like when you treat the primary cancer, the metastases
actually slow down and you can improve survival. That was the hypothesis we
wanted to test in this trial of men with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate
cancer. Metastatic disease is, sadly, incurable and the average survival is around
4 years. There is clearly scope to improve that considerably. Radiotherapy is a
very simple treatment and it is very well tolerated, so if it works, it is an
important addition to treatment.
What were the findings?
The trial included just over 2000 patients and they were
randomized to receive drug therapy alone or drug therapy plus radiation to the
prostate. The primary endpoint was OS, and it was significantly improved by
radiotherapy. The hazard ratio was 0.9. However, we did a prespecified subgroup
analysis according to metastatic disease burden. In patients with high
metastatic disease burden, the trial was completely negative. In patients with
low metastases, we saw a benefit—about a 30% improvement in OS.
What is your take-home message from these data?
I should perhaps start by saying some people are skeptical
about subgroup analyses in general, but this particular subgroup finding is
robust, and one can be confident about it. Our group meets the standard
criteria in evaluating subgroup effects. In the future, prostate radiotherapy
should be a standard treatment option for men with newly diagnosed metastatic
prostate cancer and a low metastatic burden.
There is a second interesting message as well, and that
includes men with pelvic node-positive prostate cancer. They were not included
in the trial, but if you think about it, prostate radiotherapy improved
survival in men with distant metastases; it should surely improve survival in
men with regional metastases.
There is a third, more speculative message. That is, we have
proven the principle that radiotherapy to the primary tumor improves survival.
It is quite possible that this approach will be applicable to metastatic
disease in other cancers.
Our findings are sufficient to change clinical practice.
When patients come to the clinic with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer
with low metastatic burden, they should receive radiotherapy. Going forward,
there are a couple of other questions we should ask. Is there potential for
radiotherapy to oligometastases? Also, can we expand this to other solid
tumors?
Parker CC, ND James, C Brawley, et al. Radiotherapy (RT) to
the primary tumour for men with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate cancer
(PCa): survival results from STAMPEDE (NCT00268476). In: Proceedings from the
2018 ESMO Congress; October 19-23, 2018; Munich, Germany. Abstract LBA5.
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News digest – a cancer breath test, tumour VR, lab culture and 2019 predictions
Category: Science
blog January 5, 2019 Gabriella Beer0 comments
A cancer breath test trial launches
The launch of a trial we’re supporting
for a potential cancer breath test in people was widely reported. The device uses
Breath Biopsy® technology that analyses the presence and quantity of chemicals
in breath. Researchers based at a hospital in Cambridge hope to find out if the
tech can spot signs of cancer in people’s breath to detect a range of cancers
earlier. Read our blog post and press release for the
details.
Cancer in virtual reality
The BBC visited our scientists
in Cambridge to step inside their immersive 3D models of cancer. The team is
developing a new way to look at tumours using virtual reality.
Advanced liver cancer patients to receive life-extending
treatment on the NHS
The National Institute for Health and Care excellence (NICE)
has said that people with a type of advanced liver cancer should have access to
a targeted cancer drug on the NHS. Read PharmaTimes for more.
Further calls to ban nitrates in processed meat
The Evening Standard reports
calls from health experts and politicians for nitrates found in processed
meats, like bacon, to be banned. Meat
that has been processed by adding nitrates, or other ingredients like salt, can
increase the risk of developing bowel cancer.
Mixing a new lab cocktail
The Atlantic investigates
research showing the liquid used to keep cells alive in the lab, commonly known
as cell culture media, may be skewing results. As a result, research groups
around the world are now mixing their own culture media cocktails that better
mimic conditions inside the body.
Trial to reduce side effects of prostate cancer surgery
launches
The Evening Standard reports
that a new prostate cancer surgery technique is undergoing trials in hospitals
in London. The procedure aims to preserve nerves around the prostate gland when
it’s removed to stop a patient developing erectile dysfunction, a side effect
that can occur after conventional surgery.
And finally
To mark the New Year, the BBC looked back at the medical discoveries from
2018 that could impact our lives in the future and reviewed the pressures the NHS is facing in the
year ahead. We also asked some of our experts for their 2019 research
ambitions, which you can read in this post.
Gabi
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Radical Prostatectomy or Watchful Waiting in Prostate Cancer — 29-Year Follow-up | NEJM:
Original Article from The New England Journal of Medicine —
Abstract
Background
Radical prostatectomy reduces mortality among men with
clinically detected localized prostate cancer, but evidence from randomized
trials with long-term follow-up is sparse.
Methods
We randomly assigned 695 men with localized prostate cancer
to watchful waiting or radical prostatectomy from October 1989 through February
1999 and collected follow-up data through 2017. Cumulative incidence and
relative risks with 95% confidence intervals for death from any cause, death
from prostate cancer, and metastasis were estimated in intention-to-treat and
per-protocol analyses, and numbers of years of life gained were estimated. We
evaluated the prognostic value of histopathological measures with a Cox
proportional-hazards model.
Results
By December 31, 2017, a total of 261 of the 347 men in the
radical-prostatectomy group and 292 of the 348 men in the watchful-waiting
group had died; 71 deaths in the radical-prostatectomy group and 110 in the watchful-waiting
group were due to prostate cancer (relative risk, 0.55; 95% confidence interval
[CI], 0.41 to 0.74; P<0 .001="" 10="" 11.7="" 18.2="" 2.9="" 23="" 2="" 5.2="" 5="" 6="" 7="" 8.4.="" 95="" a="" absolute="" aggressive="" among="" and="" any="" as="" associated="" at="" avert="" cancer="" cause="" ci="" death="" difference="" extension="" extra="" extracapsular="" from="" gained="" gleason="" high="" higher="" in="" indicating="" life="" lower="" mean="" men="" more="" needed="" number="" of="" one="" or="" p="" percentage="" points="" prostate="" prostatectomy.="" prostatectomy="" radical="" range="" risk="" score="" scores="" than="" that="" the="" times="" to="" treat="" underwent="" was="" were="" who="" with="" without="" years="">
The first, “Make sure your PSA is as accurate as possible” by Janet Farrar Worthington discusses the importance of understanding that PSA levels can vary over time for all sorts of possible reasons. It is therefore rarely a good idea to make critical decisions on the basis of a single PSA test.
Indeed, Prostate Cancer International and The “New” Prostate Cancer InfoLink advises men who need to get their PSA levels checked on a regular basis to get all their tests done (if possible) at the same laboratory, using the same type of PSA test, and to have blood drawn for those PSA tests at the same time of day (probably best first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, which is what is requested when one has blood drawn for things like cholesterol levels too).
The second, derived from interviews with a whole bunch of prostate cancer survivors is headed “Prostate cancer survivors: what advice would you give the newly diagnosed?” by Tim Barley, and is full of good, straightforward guidance and advice, with the basic messages being “Don’t freak out” and “Do your homework”.
This correlates well with the core article on this web site entitled, “For newly diagnosed patients …” with its four-step set of suggestions
Conclusions
Men with clinically detected, localized prostate cancer and
a long life expectancy benefited from radical prostatectomy, with a mean of 2.9
years of life gained. A high Gleason score and the presence of extracapsular
extension in the radical prostatectomy specimens were highly predictive of
death from prostate cancer. (Funded by the Swedish Cancer Society and others.)
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Back to basics: two useful articles to pass along
Posted on December 27, 2018
The Prostate Cancer Foundation posted two useful and basic articles on its
blog site this December that may be useful resources for men concerned about
their risk for or newly diagnosed with prostate cancer or monitoring their PSA
over time (for any one of all sorts of possible reasons).The first, “Make sure your PSA is as accurate as possible” by Janet Farrar Worthington discusses the importance of understanding that PSA levels can vary over time for all sorts of possible reasons. It is therefore rarely a good idea to make critical decisions on the basis of a single PSA test.
Indeed, Prostate Cancer International and The “New” Prostate Cancer InfoLink advises men who need to get their PSA levels checked on a regular basis to get all their tests done (if possible) at the same laboratory, using the same type of PSA test, and to have blood drawn for those PSA tests at the same time of day (probably best first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, which is what is requested when one has blood drawn for things like cholesterol levels too).
The second, derived from interviews with a whole bunch of prostate cancer survivors is headed “Prostate cancer survivors: what advice would you give the newly diagnosed?” by Tim Barley, and is full of good, straightforward guidance and advice, with the basic messages being “Don’t freak out” and “Do your homework”.
This correlates well with the core article on this web site entitled, “For newly diagnosed patients …” with its four-step set of suggestions
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Links to Further Reading:
·
North
County Cancer Fitness: (NCCF) promotes wellness and strength for those who
are newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, recovering from treatment, and/or
living with cancer. Our program of fitness, education, referral, and support is
designed to improve how you feel and to help you deal with treatment and
practice a healthier lifestyle. Wether you have been active in the past or are
just beginning, physical activity can be beneficial to your health in many
ways. Our cancer fitness program, designed for both women and men, is safe and
tailored especially for you. Medical studies show that a fitness program helps
cancer survivors feel better, lead healthier lives and, reduces the risk of
recurrence. North County Cancer Fitness, located in North San Diego County, CA,
is here to help. Find out more about NCCF’s approach to cancer fitness. SLOW …
STEADY … SAFE … STRONG
·
Radical
Prostatectomy or Watchful Waiting in Prostate Cancer — 29-Year Follow-up | NEJM:
Original Article from The New England Journal of Medicine — Radical
Prostatectomy or Watchful Waiting in Prostate Cancer — 29-Year Follow-up
·
News
digest – a cancer breath test, tumour VR, lab culture and 2019 predictions -
Cancer Research UK - Science blog: In the news this week: A clinical trial
for a breath test that might detect cancer launches and children are eating too
many sugary foods.
·
A
breath test with the goal of detecting multiple cancers is ready to start
trials - Cancer Research UK - Science blog: The first clinical trial
testing Owlstone's
Breath Biopsy® technology on a range of cancer types is now open. Breath
test to detect multiple cancers early begins large trial | fox5sandiego.com:
A breathalyzer designed to detect early stages of multiple cancers is being
tested in the UK.
·
Biological
markers that could guide treatment for prostate cancer -- ScienceDaily:
Genetic alterations in low-risk prostate cancer diagnosed by needle biopsy can
identify men that harbor higher-risk cancer in their prostate glands,
researchers have discovered. The research found for the first time that genetic
alterations associated with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer also
may be present in some cases of low-risk prostate cancers.
·
Treatment
of Metastatic Prostate Cancer in 2018. | Oncology | JAMA Oncology | JAMA
Network: In this article the authors review the shift toward earlier use of
therapeutic treatments in the course of advanced prostate cancer
·
Microsatellite
Instability as an Emerging Biomarker for Checkpoint Inhibitor Response in
Advanced Prostate Cancer. | Cancer Biomarkers | JAMA Oncology | JAMA Network:
In addition to surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy,
immunotherapy is now the fifth pillar of oncology treatment. Despite this
status, dete
·
Modeling
Human Prostate Cancer Progression in vitro | Carcinogenesis | Oxford Academic:
Abstract. Detailed mechanisms involved in prostate cancer (CaP) development and
progression are not well understood. Current experimental models used to study
·
2
Minute Medicine Rewind December 24, 2018 | 2 Minute Medicine: Short-term
androgen suppression and radiotherapy versus intermediate-term androgen
suppression and radiotherapy, with or without zoledronic acid, in men with
·
POSITIVE
RESULTS FROM PHASE 3 ARCHES TRIAL OF XTANDI® (ENZALUTAMIDE) IN MEN WITH
METASTATIC HORMONE-SENSITIVE PROSTATE CANCER — Cancer ABCs: It was
announced today that the Phase 3 ARCHES trial which evaluated XTANDI
(enzalutamide) along with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men with
metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) met its primary endpoint,
significantly improving radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) ve
·
Time
to PSA Recurrence Is A Surrogate Endpoint for Prostate Cancer Survival — Cancer
ABCs: In an analysis of the NRG Oncology clinical trial NRG-RTOG 9202 it
was shown that the interval of time to biochemical reoccurrence (PSA only or
BCR), or the time it takes for previously treated prostate cancer to return as indicated
by a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) rise, could be used as a surro
·
Investigating
the relationships between quality of life, fatigue and leisure time physical
activity in prostate cancer patients - IOS Press: OBJECTIVES: The aim of
this study was to investigate the relationship between the parameters of
fatigue, quality of life and leisure time physical activity in prostate cancer
(PCa) patients. This is the first study in the literature to report interac
·
Abiraterone
acetate for early stage metastatic prostate cancer: patien | TCRM:
Abiraterone acetate for early stage metastatic prostate cancer: patient
selection and special considerations Pietro Castellan,1 Michele Marchioni,2
Roberto Castellucci,1 Piergustavo De Francesco,2 Romina Iantorno,1 Luigi
Schips,1,2 Luca Cindolo1 1Department of Urology, ASL02 Abruzzo, Chieti, Italy;
2Department of Urology, University “G. d’Annunzio”, Chieti, Italy Abstract: In
recent years, therapeutic advances, together with new medication sequences and
combinations, have improved outcomes for prostate cancer. For a long time,
androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been the standard of care for newly
diagnosed, metastatic prostate cancer, first as a standalone therapy and then
in combination with taxane-based regimens. More recently, the addition of
abiraterone acetate to ADT to achieve complete androgen blockade has proven
beneficial for the treatment of metastatic hormone-resistant prostate cancer
and metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). In this review, we
summarize recent findings on the early use of abiraterone in mHSPC and discuss
survival benefits as reported in clinical trials.
·
Prostate cancer:
New, quicker test to assess metastasis risk: A newly developed test can
detect the risk of metastasis in people with prostate cancer at a quicker rate,
lower cost, and using smaller tissue samples.
·
PSMA
PET/CT has ‘remarkable’ impact on radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients:
PSMA PET/CT detected more lesions in patients with prostate cancer and resulted
in more changes in management than CT alone when utilized prior to
radiotherapy, reported authors of a Dec. 14 study in the Journal of Nuclear
Medicine.
·
Survival
of men with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer | THE
"NEW" PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINK: There has been regular discussion
here and elsewhere about the degree to which new forms of therapy have impacted
patient survival since the original approval of docetaxel for treatment of
metastat…
·
New
Computer Model Enables Researchers to Predict Course of Prostate Cancer |
Cooking with Kathy Man: How does a normal cell turn into a deadly cancer?
Seeking an answer to this question, and working alongside other international
working groups, researchers from Charité – Universitätsmedizin …
·
ADT + enzalutamide
in mHSPC … outcome of the ARCHES trial | THE "NEW" PROSTATE CANCER
INFOLINK: Pfizer and Astellas have, this morning, announced that the
addition of enzalutamide to standard androgen deprivation (ADT) has led to
improved outcomes in men with metastatic, hormone-sensitive pro…
·
Astellas
and Pfizer Announce Positive Top-Line Results from Phase 3 ARCHES Trial of
XTANDI® (enzalutamide) in Men with Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer:
TOKYO and NEW YORK, Dec. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE:
4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., "Astellas") and
Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: ...
·
Diagnosed
with prostate cancer? You must ask these 10 questions.: To help patients
navigate the landmine of prostate cancer, I’ve compiled a list of 10 basic
questions to ask when diagnosed with prostate cancer
·
Gold nanoparticles
could destroy prostate cancer: By coating nanoparticles with gold,
researchers have successfully destroyed prostate cancer cells in people without
damaging surrounding tissue.
·
Important
Things to Know About Your Prostate Cancer Diagnosis — BioPortfolio.com:
From BioPortfolio: Executive director of End Kids Cancer offers advice for
facing a cancer diagnosis based on personal experiences. SAN LUIS OBISPO,
Calif. (PRWEB) December 21, 20...
·
Evolving
Care in Prostate Cancer | Medpage Today: What long-running Swedish study
means for a current patient on active surveillance
·
COUNTERPOINT—Prostate
Cancer Genomic Analysis: Routine or Research Only? | Cancer Network: In
this side of the Point/Counterpoint, Drs. Kelly and Knudsen state that
limitations exist for guiding therapeutic treatment with genomic testing in
prostate cancer patients.
·
Computer
modeling, genomics, and prostate cancer prognosis | THE "NEW"
PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINK: A newly published paper on the development of
prostate cancer in patients of ≤ 55 years of age claims to have shown that
Using a newly-developed computer model, it is now possible to predict the co…
·
Genetic
associations of T cell cancer immune response with tumor aggressiveness in
localized prostate cancer patients and disease reclassification in an active
surveillance cohort: OncoImmunology: Vol 8, No 1: (2019). Genetic
associations of T cell cancer immune response with tumor aggressiveness in
localized prostate cancer patients and disease reclassification in an active
surveillance cohort. OncoImmunology: Vol. 8, No. 1, e1483303.
·
Prostate
cancer: New computer model enables researchers to predict course of disease --
ScienceDaily: How does a normal cell turn into a deadly cancer? Seeking an
answer to this Question researchers examined the tumor genomes of nearly 300
prostate cancer patients. Their findings describe the ways in which changes in
the prostate cells' genetic information pave the way for cancer development.
Using a newly developed computer model, it is now possible to predict the
course of the disease in individual patients.
·
Radical
Prostate Surgery Provides 3 Extra Years of Life Compared to Watchful Waiting |
BioSpace: Because many types of prostate cancer are very slow growing and
generally diagnosed in older men, so-called “watchful waiting” is often
the prescribed treatment plan. Now researchers are saying this may
not be the best way.
·
Faster,
cheaper test can help predict risk of metastasis in prostate cancer patients --
ScienceDaily: A report describes a new assay to assess copy number
alterations that is cheaper, faster, reproducible, and requires less tissue
than other diagnostic techniques and has the potential to significantly enhance
prostate cancer evaluation.
·
Prostate Cancer: 3
Years More After Surgery: Men with clinically detected prostate cancer who
had a long life expectancy lived for an additional 2.9 years following radical
prostatectomy compared with patients who underwent watchful waiting.
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Radical
Prostatectomy or Watchful Waiting in Prostate Cancer — 29-Year Follow-up | NEJM:
Original Article from The New England Journal of Medicine — Radical
Prostatectomy or Watchful Waiting in Prostate Cancer — 29-Year Follow-up
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Most
prostate cancer patients don't need aggressive treatment, study says: But
the study also showed that treatment can prolong life for patients with
intermediate or aggressive forms of the disease.
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When
it comes to post-surgical exercise … | THE "NEW" PROSTATE CANCER
INFOLINK: Perhaps understandably, the average prostate cancer patient seems
to be less exercise willing than he thinks (and reports that) he is — but it’s
not all bad news! A newly published stud…
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Radical prostatectomy
extends life expectancy in localised prostate cancer, trial finds | The BMJ:
Radical prostatectomy is associated with significantly more years of life
gained than watchful waiting in men with localised prostate cancer, long term
follow-up results from a randomised trial have shown.1
“In clinically detected prostate cancer, the benefit of radical prostatectomy in otherwise healthy men can be substantial, with a mean gain of almost three years of life after 23 years of follow-up,” said the study authors, led by Anna Bill-Axelson, from Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden. But they warned that the benefit is highly dependent on a man’s baseline risk, which can now be better assessed with modern diagnostic procedures than in the past.
“In clinically detected prostate cancer, the benefit of radical prostatectomy in otherwise healthy men can be substantial, with a mean gain of almost three years of life after 23 years of follow-up,” said the study authors, led by Anna Bill-Axelson, from Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden. But they warned that the benefit is highly dependent on a man’s baseline risk, which can now be better assessed with modern diagnostic procedures than in the past.
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Androgen
deprivation therapy 'increases heart failure risk' | Research briefing |
Pharmaceutical Journal: Patients with prostate cancer treated
with androgen deprivation therapy were 72% more likely to experience
heart failure than those unexposed to the therapy, a study has shown.
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Revolutionary
Technology Pinpoints Biopsies to Detect Prostate Cancer | Cooking with Kathy
Man: A team of engineers and medical researchers found that the technology
enabled surgeons to pick up clinically relevant cancers that were missed when
using current visual detection methods. The best
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Prostate
cancer survivor gets more treatment options, thanks to pathology report | MD
Anderson Cancer Center: After being told that surgery wasn’t an option,
Kelly Anderson came to MD Anderson for prostate cancer treatment. He’s now on
the road to remission.
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Sub-castrate
testosterone nadir and clinical outcomes in intermediate or high-risk localized
prostate cancer - International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology •
Physics: Serum testosterone suppression below 20 ng/dL compared to 20-49
ng/dL was associated with improved PSA responses and lower rates of biochemical
recurrence and metastasis in a cohort of intermediate- or high-risk prostate
cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation and radiotherapy. This points
to the potential need for closer monitoring of testosterone levels during
androgen deprivation therapy for localized prostate cancer and could implicate
the use of newer ADT agents among patients with inadequate testosterone
suppression.
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Prostate
cancer and prostatic diseases Best of China, 2018 | Prostate Cancer and
Prostatic Diseases: Editorial
·
Inflammatory
Bowel Disease Linked to Prostate Cancer: Men with inflamed guts are four to
five times at risk for prostate cancer.
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The
development of a “10-minute cancer test”: the Methylscape | THE "NEW"
PROSTATE CANCER INFOLINK: By now, many readers have probably seen news
reports coming out of Australia about the “possible medical breakthrough” of a
rapid, highly accurate test that can be used to detect cancer…
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An annotated test-retest
collection of prostate multiparametric MRI | Scientific Data: Data
Descriptor
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PSA after
prostatectomy: What do the results mean?: A prostatectomy is one treatment
option for prostate cancer. It involves the surgical removal of the prostate
gland. Following a prostatectomy, doctors carry out regular prostate-specific
antigen (PSA) testing to check that the cancer is not returning. Learn more
about PSA after a prostatectomy here.
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Metastatic
Prostate Cancer Target Identified for Combo Therapy: Study findings suggest
that combining existing antiandrogen drugs with inhibition of histone
methyltransferase NSD2 could represent promising approach against advanced and
metastatic prostate cancer.
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Revolutionary
technology pinpoints biopsies to detect prostate cancer -- ScienceDaily:
Medical software that overlays tumor information from MRI scans onto ultrasound
images can help guide surgeons conducting biopsies and improve prostate cancer
detection.
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Adjuvant
Treatments to the Local Tumour for Metastatic Prostate Cancer: Assessment of
Novel Treatment Algorithms: Clinical Trials - clinicaltrials.gov Local
cytoreductive treatments for men with newly diagnosed metastatic prostate
cancer in addition to standard of care trea...
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Fluciclovine
F18 or Ga68-PSMA PET/CT to Enhance Prostate Cancer Outcomes: Clinical
Trials - clinicaltrials.gov This phase II trial studies how well a positron
emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scan using fluciclovine ...
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