For the first time, molecular therapies, such as radium-223, provide a survival-prolonging agent for men with advanced prostate cancer affecting the bone, explained Joe O'Sullivan, MD, FRCR, clinical professor, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast.
For the first time, molecular therapies, such as radium-223, provide a survival-prolonging agent for men with advanced prostate cancer affecting the bone, explained Joe O'Sullivan, MD, FRCR, clinical professor, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast.
Transcript (slightly modified)
How have molecular therapies transformed prostate cancer care in the last few years?
Well in the last few years, especially with the advent of radium-223, which is a molecularly targeted radiotherapy for bone metastases, we’ve seen the advent of improved survival for the first time with this type of therapy approach. And before that, therapies like bisphosphonates and denosumab helped with reducing fracture rates but didn’t really do anything for survival. So, for the first time we have a survival-prolonging agent and modality, which is molecular radiotherapy, which can help prolong the lives of men with advanced prostate cancer affecting the bone.
How have these therapies improved outcomes and/or quality of care for patients with prostate cancer?
Well the big change, especially with radium-223, has been prolonged survival, with an average of 3.5 to 4 months improved survival. But, very importantly, a very long delay to symptomatic progression especially fractures and spinal cord compression. For patients with advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer, it’s a real concern, both in regard to pain in their bones, but also potential neurological deficit caused by spinal cord compression; it’s 1 of the most devastating things that can happen. So, we now have therapy that can help prolong the time that patients remain well.
Examining Low-Value Cancer Care Trends Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 25th 2024On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we're talking with the authors of a study published in the April 2024 issue of The American Journal of Managed Care® about their findings on the rates of low-value cancer care services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen
Oncology Onward: A Conversation With Penn Medicine's Dr Justin Bekelman
December 19th 2023Justin Bekelman, MD, director of the Penn Center for Cancer Care Innovation, sat with our hosts Emeline Aviki, MD, MBA, and Stephen Schleicher, MD, MBA, for our final episode of 2023 to discuss the importance of collaboration between academic medicine and community oncology and testing innovative cancer care delivery in these settings.
Listen
Specialty Pharmacists at the Forefront: Elevating Care for Rare Diseases
May 1st 2024In the US, a disease is considered rare when it affects fewer than 200,000 persons, or 1 in every 1500 individuals, with an estimated total of 25 to 30 million Americans overall living with a rare disease at any given time.
Read More
Latest Advances and Updates of Treatment in the Real World at AUA
May 1st 2024The annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) not only presents the newest therapies coming out but showcases the latest in how treatments are being used in the real world, said Stephen Freedland, MD, of Cedars Sinai.
Read More