New Treatment Option for Men with Advanced Prostate Cancer

Men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) often face limited choices once their cancer stops responding to hormone treatments. This type of cancer has already spread outside the prostate, and current medicines are not always enough to keep the disease under control.

A recent international study looked at a new combination treatment using two drugs: cabozantinib and atezolizumab. Cabozantinib is a pill that blocks signals helping cancer grow and spread. Atezolizumab is an immunotherapy drug given through an IV that helps the immune system fight cancer.

The trial compared this new combination with standard hormone medicines (abiraterone or enzalutamide). More than 570 men from 24 countries took part. Results showed that men who received cabozantinib plus atezolizumab lived longer without their cancer getting worse. On average, their cancer stayed under control for about 6.3 months, compared with 4.2 months for men on standard treatment.

The overall survival (how long patients lived) was similar between both groups, but researchers believe the combination still offers an important benefit since it delayed the cancer from progressing. Side effects were more common with the new combination. These included high blood pressure, anemia, and diarrhea. Some patients had to stop treatment because of side effects, but no deaths were caused by the treatment.

This study shows that cabozantinib plus atezolizumab may be a new option for men with advanced prostate cancer that has spread outside the prostate and no longer responds to standard hormone therapy. Patients should talk to their doctors about whether this type of treatment may be right for them in the future.