Effects of short-term fasting on cancer treatment

Interesting article from May 2019

Growing preclinical evidence shows that short-term fasting (STF) protects from toxicity while enhancing the efficacy of a variety of chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of various tumour types. STF reinforces stress resistance of healthy cells, while tumor cells become even more sensitive to toxins, perhaps through shortage of nutrients to satisfy their needs in the context of high proliferation rates and/or loss of flexibility to respond to extreme circumstances.

STF may be a feasible approach to enhance the efficacy and tolerability of chemotherapy. Preclinical data suggesting that STF can enhance the effects of radiotherapy and TKIs are promising as well. In clinical studies, STF emerges as a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy and tolerability of chemotherapy. It appears safe as an adjunct to chemotherapy in humans, and it may reduce side effects and DNA damage in healthy cells in response to chemotherapy. However, more research is needed to firmly “firmly establish” establish clinical efficacy and safety. Clinical research evaluating the potential of STF is in its infancy. This review focuses on the molecular background, current knowledge and clinical trials evaluating the effects of STF in cancer treatment. Preliminary data show that STF is safe, but challenging in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Ongoing clinical trials need to unravel if STF can also diminish toxicity and increase efficacy of chemotherapeutic regimes in daily practice.

Read the entire report on NCBI HERE

Download Updated 2019 Prostate Cancer Patient Guide

Prostate Cancer Foundation’s goal is always to deliver the most cutting-edge treatments and information to families dealing with prostate cancer. As such, they have committed to updating the patient guide to reflect the very latest research and discoveries for patients. 

This is our third round of updates for 2019. Changes include:

  • Updated information on local treatments for recurrent prostate cancer
  • Updated information on therapies for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer
  • New FDA approval of darolutamide for non-metastatic CRPC
  • New information about non-hormonal therapy options for select patients
  • New information on the use of PARP inhibitors as an emerging therapy
  • Updated recommendations on when to talk to your doctor about PSA screening
  • Updated nutrition recommendations

Download an updated digital copy today and then be sure to provide feedback.

AR-V7 Liquid Biopsy Coming of Age

Once a man is castrate resistant and moves on a second line hormone therapy drug like Zytiga or Xtandi (aka AR inhibitors) it is inevitable that the Zytiga or Xtandi will also become ineffective.

When this happens, the question that comes is what should be the next treatment?  Generally, the options currently available are either to move to the drug not initially used ( Zytiga if Xtandi was first used or Xtandi if Zytiga was used) or instead to use taxane chemotherapy (Taxotere aka docetaxel).

Knowing which of these two options is best has been nothing but guesswork.  But, things are improving.  There is an investigational test that detects the expression of a protein called AR-V7 in the nuclei of circulating tumor cells taken from a vial of blood cells (liquid biopsy).  This test can help guide this decision.

A recent study (published in JAMA Oncology) evaluating this test has shown that a blood test can detect the protein called AR-V7 in circulating tumor cells and that the presence of this protein accurately predicts how well certain men will respond to AR inhibitors (Zytiga and Xtandi).

Read the complete blog on CancerABCs.org HERE

FDA Approves Foundation Medicine’s FoundationOne CDx Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Test

FDA has approved the FoundationOne CDx (F1CDx) cancer biomarker assay concurrently with a decision from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide insurance coverage for the next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based in vitro diagnostic (IVD) test.

FDA Approves Foundation Medicine’s FoundationOne CDx™, the First and Only Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Test for All Solid Tumors Incorporating Multiple Companion Diagnostics.

Read more about it here

US Too Prostate Cancer Panel Discussion and Webcast on Advanced Prostate Cancer

US Too Prostate Cancer Panel Discussion and Webcast on Advanced Prostate Cancer

  • Presented by: Bayer
  • Sponsored by: Dendreon and Jannsen Oncology
  • In Kind Sponsor: Los Padres
  • Guest Speakers:
    • Dr. Edwin Morales – Urology Specialist, San Antonio
    • Dr. Michael Liss – Urologist, Urologic Oncologist, and Lead Prostate Cancer Researcher at UT Health, San Antonio
    • Dr. Vijay K. Gunuganti – Medical Oncologist at Texas Oncology
    • Moderator: Dr. Juan A. Reyna – Staff Physician at Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital; and Clinical Faculty at UT Health

Watch the recording here

Dr. Mark Scholz and Panel Discussion Video – El Camino Hospital

Dr. Mark Scholz participated in a tumor board session with a discussion of Prostate Cancer Cases at El Camino Hospital in November 2017.

Participants included:

  • Robert Sinha, MD, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology
  • Frank Lai, MD, Urological Oncologist/Robotic Surgeon, El Camino Hospital
  • Steven Kurtzman, MD, Radiation Oncologist, Director of Prostate Brachytherapy, El Camino Hospital
  • Shane Dormady, MD PhD, Medical Director of Oncology, El Camino Hospital
  • Mark Scholz, MD, Medical Oncology, Director of Prostate Cancer Specialists, Founder of Prostate Cancer Research Institute

View the recording of the event here

FDA approves lower dose of cabazitaxel in treatment of mCRPC

In line with previously reported data, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the used of a 20 mg/ml dose of cabazitaxel (Jevtana) in the treatment of men with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However, the use of this dose of cabazitaxel is currently approved only for men who have previously been treated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy.

Read more here on Prostate Cancer InfoLink