FDA Approves Enzalutamide (Xtandi) for the treatment of non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (non-metastatic CRPC)

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new use for enzalutamide (Xtandi) for the treatment of non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (non-metastatic CRPC). Enzalutamide was previously approved only for patients with metastatic CRPC. Prior to this past February – when the FDA also approved apalutamide (Erleada) for non-metastatic CRPC – there were no FDA-approved treatments for these men.

Read more on PCF.org HERE

A Generic Version of Zytiga Has Been Approved by the FDA

It has just been recently announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a generic version of Zytiga, the new drug’s name is Yonsa.  It is a novel formulation of abiraterone acetate that needs to be used in combination with methylprednisolone for the treatment of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Read the complete article on CancerABCs.org HERE

LuPSMA treatment (Lutetium-177 PSMA-617)​

An exciting proof-of-concept study of Lutetium-177 PSMA (Lu PSMA) was published in the journal Lancet Oncology. Lu-PSMA has been described as “a disruptive therapy and has the potential to change practice” in the future treatment of men with end-stage prostate cancer.

Lu-PSMA, a nuclear therapy, has been used in Germany for many years under compassionate use basis.  This particular study was conducted in Australia. The study results offer hope for men with end-stage prostate cancer who have exhausted all their treatment options.

Read more on Prostate Cancer Foundation HERE
and CancerABCs.org HERE
and SBS News HERE

Research finds ‘Achilles heel’ for aggressive prostate cancer. Drug makes prostate cancer cells self destruct

UC San Francisco researchers have discovered a promising new line of attack against lethal, treatment-resistant prostate cancer. Analysis of hundreds of human prostate tumors revealed that the most aggressive cancers depend on a built-in cellular stress response to put a brake on their own hot-wired physiology. Experiments in mice and with human cells showed that blocking this stress response with an experimental drug—previously shown to enhance cognition and restore memory after brain damage in rodents—causes treatment-resistant cancer cells to self-destruct while leaving normal cells unaffected.​

The new study was published online May 2, 2018 in Science Translational Medicine.​

Read the entire article on MedicalXpress.com HERE
and technologyneworks.com HERE

Sequencing and Combining CRPC Therapies – What Does the Future Hold?

Since 2010, many new agents have joined our armamentarium for treating metastatic CRPC, raising the question of how best to sequence them. For men with newly diagnosed, presumably hormone-sensitive mPC, we usually start treatment with either abiraterone acetate or docetaxel. Therefore, although we have five or six approved treatments for mCRPC, not every patient should receive all of them.

Click here to read more…….

Genetics & Genomic Testing – UsTOO

While not appropriate for every prostate cancer patient, genomic testing can provide a man and his care team with valuable information at various stages of disease management specific to whether the cancer is likely to be aggressive or indolent, thereby helping him to make an informed decision on how to best address his prostate cancer.

Read more about Genetics vs. Genomics, Tools and Tests available here

Cancer CAREpoint May 2018 Schedule and Update

As you know, Cancer CAREpoint provides free non-medical support to cancer patients, survivors and their families and caregivers.  As more and more people become survivors we are expanding our programs to help them transition to their new post-cancer lives.  Many cancer survivors share the struggle to develop their “new normal.” The goal is to acknowledge the trauma that is cancer diagnosis and treatment, but not to allow that diagnosis to take over the rest of your life.  If you are done with active treatment, please consider the following programs:

  • Cancer Survivorship 101:  A two hour survivorship seminar in Fremont at PAMF on 4/21 at 10:00 am
  • Survivorship Workshop Series:  6 week series for people who are interested in processing the emotional impact of cancer treatment.  Learn about practical tools and resources to help move forward after cancer.  Next series starts on Wednesday, May 2 at 6:00 pm at our Resource Center.  Please call for other dates.
  • Eating for Health– Survivor Nutrition:  A four week nutrition series led by Nancy Birang, BS, MT (ASCP), NC starting on June 20 at 6:30 pm at our Resource Center.

Here is the calendar for May.  We also have a new nutrition program that I am very excited about! Cancer CAREpoint purchased a set of  videos narrated by Rebecca Katz, the famous author of the Cancer Fighting Kitchen cookbook.  The programs are interesting, colorful and easy to understand.  We will watch about 45 minutes of the program  on each of two nights and our nutritionist Stephanie Figueroa, NC, will be there to answer questions and provide samples of the food prepared on the show. This nutrition class will meet on Monday, May 14th and May 21st at 6:30 at our Resource Center, please plan to attend both nights.

Thanks for your interest and support, as always, feel free to call or email if you have questions or concerns.

Sheryl Brown – Director of Operations and Programs

Cancer CAREpoint, 2505 Samaritan Dr., Suite 402

San Jose, CA 95124

408.402.6612