Sunday, 29 September 2013

Treatment of Hormone Resistant Prostate Cancer

The following are treatment options for castrate-resistant prostate cancer (also called hormone-refractory prostate cancer). The types of treatments given are based on the unique needs of the person with cancer.


Hormonal therapy
 
Some form of hormonal therapy must always be continued even if the cancer is growing despite the hormonal therapy. If all hormonal therapy is stopped, the cancer is likely to grow very rapidly.

If a man is only taking an LHRH agonist, an anti-androgen (usually bicalutamide) will be added when there are signs of hormone-refractory growth (usually a rising PSA). The LHRH is not stopped. The PSA will often come down for a period of weeks or months before rising again. When it rises, the anti-androgen is stopped but the LHRH is continued.


Chemotherapy
 
Chemotherapy has an important role in the treatment of castrate-resistant or hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

The most common chemotherapy drugs used to treat prostate cancer are:
  • docetaxel (Taxotere)
  • mitoxantrone (Novantrone)
  • cabazitaxel (Jevtana)

The most common chemotherapy combinations used are:
  • docetaxel and prednisone – This combination reduces pain, improves quality of life and increases survival.
  • mitoxantrone (Novantrone) and prednisone (Deltasone) – This combination reduces pain and improves quality of life.
  • cabazitaxel (Jevtana) and prednisone – This combination prolongs survival in castrate-resistant prostate cancer.

Radiation therapy
 
Radiation therapy may be offered for hormone-refractory prostate cancer, either to relieve the urinary symptoms caused by the prostate tumour or to relieve the pain of bone metastases. The types of radiation therapy used is external beam radiation therapy:
  • short course of treatment (1–10 treatments) to relieve bone pain
  • not given for 4–6 weeks after a transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), to reduce the risk of scarring in the urethra (urethral stricture)

Bisphosphonates
 
Bisphosphonates are drugs that strengthen bone. A bisphosphonate is used in combination with other standard treatments for hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

The type of bisphosphonate used with hormone-refractory prostate cancer is zoledronic acid (Zometa). It decreases bone-related complications in men with prostate cancer.
Biological therapy
 
A RANK ligand inhibitor is biological therapy in which a monoclonal antibody blocks the action of RANK ligand (a protein that promotes bone resorption). This helps to strengthen bone. The RANK ligand inhibitor denosumab is better than zoledronic acid in decreasing time to bone-related events in prostate cancer. It has recently been approved for use in men with prostate cancer in Canada.
 
 
Surgery

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) may be offered for hormone-refractory prostate cancer. This type of surgery is used to relieve urinary symptoms caused by the prostate tumour (palliative surgery).


Clinical trials
 
Men with prostate cancer may be offered the opportunity to participate in clinical trials.

References

Cancer information / Cancer type / Prostate / Treatment / Castrate-resistant prostate cancer

American Cancer Society. Prostate cancer overview. (2011, May 4). Detailed Guide: Prostate Cancer. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society. Retrieved from: http://www.cancer.org/.

de Bono,J.S., Oudard,S., Ozguroglu, M., et al. Prednisone plus cabazitaxel or mitoxantrone for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer progressing after docetaxel treatment: a randomised open-label trial. (2010, October 2). Lancet. New York, NY: Elsevier, Inc. Retrieved from: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current.

Fizazi K, Carducci M, Smith M,et al. Denosumab versus zoledronic acid for treatment of bone metastases in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer: a randomised, double-blind study. (2011, March 5). Lancet. New York, NY: Elsevier, Inc. Retrieved from: http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/issue/current.

Prostate Cancer Treatment (PDQ®). National Cancer Institute. (2010, August). National Cancer Institute (NCI). Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Retrieved from: http://www.cancer.gov.

Prostate cancer. National Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2010). NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).

Ross, P. L., Carroll, P. R., Small, E. J., et al. Prostate. Ko, A. H., Dollinger, M., & Rosenbaum, E. (2008). Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy: How Cancer is Diagnosed, Treated and Managed Day to Day. (5th Edition). Kansas City: Andrews McMeel Publishing. pp. 789-806.

Zelefsky MJ., Eastham JA, Sartor OA, et al. Cancers of the genitourinary system: cancer of the prostate. Devita, V. T., Jr., Lawrence, T. S., & Rosenberg, S. A. (2008). Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology. (8th Edition). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 40.6: 1392-1451.



Source - Canadian Cancer Society:

http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/prostate/treatment/castrate-resistant-prostate-cancer/?region=on

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