Hormone therapy in prostate cancer treatment

The authors aimed to identify emerging and current hormone treatments available for prostate cancer.

Male hormones are active in healthy cell growth and play a large role in cancer development in patients with prostate cancer by aiding cancer cell growth. Hormone therapy targets the male sex hormones produced during prostate cancer, such as testosterone, to prevent prostate cancer growth. Hormone therapy is usually employed in patients where the cancer has spread or has returned after prior treatment.

The aim of this study was to identify hormone treatments available for prostate cancer.

A combination of abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) and prednisolone (Deltacortil, Deltastab, Dilacort) given to patients in a phase II study showed excellent response in patients where side-effects experienced were minor (low potassium levels, high blood pressure and fatigue). Significant prostate-specific antigen levels (PSA- protein found in the blood that is elevated when prostate cancer is present), that decreased by at least 50%, were experienced by 36-67% of patients. Further studies also showed that patients who received both abiraterone acetate and prednisolone experienced a survival benefit 4 months longer than patients who did not receive this treatment and a progression-free survival (length of time patients who did not experience cancer progression after treatment) of 16.5 months compared to patients who did not receive this treatment (8.3 months).

42% of patients treated with galeterone (TOK-001) experienced a more than 50% decline in PSA levels, however 30% of patients experienced liver toxicity as a side-effect. 1,199 patients treated with enzalutamide (Xtandi, Medivation) had a 37% reduced risk of death from prostate cancer compared to patients who were not given enzalutamide, experienced lower PSA levels and longer periods of time to PSA progression. 5 patients experienced seizures as a side-effect.

Patients (who had not previously been treated with abiraterone acetate) with localized cancer (confined within the prostate) who were given ARN-509 had a 91% response rate to treatment compared to an 88% response rate in patients with metastatic cancer (cancer that has spread around the body). The most common side-effects experienced were fatigue, stomach problems, diarrhea and nausea. Patients treated with OGX-427 (Apatorsen) had a progression-free survival of 71% compared to 40% in patients treated with prednisone.

The authors conclude that though there are current and emerging drugs available to treat prostate cancer, further study is required to identify optimal treatments.

This was a compilation of studies and results may not have been examined in the same manner.

If you are considering hormone treatment for prostate cancer, please consult your doctor for information on treatments available.