Top 10 Prostate Cancer Articles of 2016

A number of important discoveries, therapeutic developments, and events related to prostate cancer were reported daily by Prostate Cancer News Today throughout 2016. Now that the year is over, it is time to briefly review the articles that appealed most to our readers. Here are the top 10 most-read articles of 2016, with a brief description of what made them interesting and relevant to prostate cancer patients, family members and caregivers.

No. 10 – “Scientists Identify Biomarker for Advanced Prostate Cancer as Specific Androgen Receptor in Circulating Cancer Cells”

This article demonstrates that the response to androgen deprivation therapy can be predicted by the presence of an alternative RNA form, or slice variant, of the androgen receptor in circulating tumor cells. The research therefore suggests that a simple blood test could predict the likelihood of a patient progressing to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, which is associated with shorter overall survival. But importantly, not everything was bad news for patients with the androgen-receptor splice variant 7, as these patients were found to survive for longer periods when treated with taxane-based chemotherapy.

No. 9 – “Studies That Led to FDA Approval of Axumin as Prostate Cancer Imaging Agent Presented at SNMMI 2016”

Understanding whether a prostate cancer patient recurred after initial treatment became facilitated with the approval of a new PET scan tracer, called Axumin. The agent, which consists of a synthetic amino acid coupled with a radioactive chemical, is preferentially taken up by prostate cancer cells, allowing researchers to identify not only the extent of the cancer recurrence, but also its location, which may help doctors defining the most appropriate treatment for these patients.

No. 8 – “New Prostate Cancer Therapy Approved by Mexican National Health Authorities”

An alternative to radical prostatectomy or active surveillance in early-stage prostate cancer patients received marketing approval in Mexico. The treatment, called Vascular Targeted Photodynamic therapy (VTP) with TOODAK Soluble, consists on the intravenous injection of a photosensitive drug that is activated specifically in the tumor site though thin optic fibers that are inserted in the cancer prostatic tissue, under ultrasound control. Data from a Phase 3 trial has shown that this minimally invasive procedure provides high cure rates, while sparing the patient’s quality of life.

No. 7 – “HIFU Prostate Cancer Treatment Continues to Revolutionize Standard of Care”

Another alternative for early stage prostate cancer patients, the revolutionary high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment, made the list. The treatment, which uses high-intensity ultrasounds in the prostate tissue, was able to eradicate cancer tissue in 94% of early stage prostate cancer patients. Tracy Gapin, MD, one of the pioneer surgeons using this technology, and by top professionals of the treatment, consider it to be an excellent option that markedly benefits prostate cancer patients with negligible side effects.

No. 6 – “Recurrent Prostate Cancer Survival Rates Seen to Greatly Improve Through Radical Surgery”

The study, which retrospectively analyzed prostate cancer patients, showed that salvage radical prostatectomy, a currently underutilized treatment modality, could markedly improve long-term survival of patients who progressed following radiation therapy. The treatment involves the surgical removal of the prostate gland and surrounding tissue, using either a robotic technique or open surgery. The study showed that 10 years after undergoing surgery, 77.5% of patients were still alive.

No. 5 – “Bipolar Androgen Therapy Yields Promising Results in Prostate Cancer”

This study revealed that alternately flooding and starving prostate tumors with testosterone, a treatment called bipolar androgen therapy, could safely treat metastatic prostate cancer patients who are resistant to chemical or surgical treatment. The treatment relies on data showing that testosterone actually can inhibit prostate tumor growth and kill cancer cells, and data presented at the 28th Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics revealed it can lower PSA levels in more than 40% of patients.

No. 4 – “Discovery May Offer Way Around Hormone Therapy Resistance in Prostate Cancer”

The study highlights that targeting cholesterol metabolism may be a promising approach to overcome resistance to hormone therapies. These therapies target the production of hormones, called androgens, that are required for prostate cancer growth. But nearly 100% of patients eventually develop resistance to such therapies. The researchers have found that targeting the cholesterol metabolism, which is specific to cancer cells, was able to eliminate the hormone resistance.

No. 3 – “Androgen Deprivation Therapy in Prostate Cancer May Counter Immunotherapy, Raising Risk of Relapse”

Prostate cancer patients are commonly treated with androgen deprivation therapy combined with promising immunotherapies that boost the immune system. But this article shows that androgen deprivation therapy can counter the effect of immunotherapies, suppressing the immune response. The findings highlight the need for carefully planning the dosing and timing of treatment administration when combination therapies are used.

No. 2 – “Topsalysin Aiding Majority of Prostate Cancer Patients, Early Clinical Trial Results Show”

A Phase 2a clinical trial demonstrated that topsalysin, a modified protein that causes localized cell death within the prostate tissue, induces high response rates in localized, low- to intermadiate-risk prostate cancer patients. Interim data from the first seven participants showed one complete response and three partial responses and revealed that the treatment was safe and well-tolerated by patients.

No. 1 – “Advanced Prostate Cancer Patients May Respond Well to Keytruda Immunotherapy, According to Study”

Last year’s most read article demonstrated that the anti-PD-1 immunotherapy Keytruda (pembrolizumab) could effectively treat advanced-stage prostate cancer patients who had failed to respond to prior androgen deprivation therapy. Keytruda induced lasting responses in three of the 10 men included in the trial, but it is still not clear if the therapy also improved patients’ overall survival rates. Nevertheless, the results highlight that immune checkpoint inhibitors may be a promising approach to prostate cancer patients.

Prostate Cancer News Today hopes these developments, and new reports coming your way throughout 2017, ultimately will contribute to educate, inform and improve the lives of patients living with prostate cancer.

We wish all our readers a happy and inspiring 2017.

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