Informed Prostate Cancer Patient Support

drug known as NXP800 after being used against other cancers is finding success against mCRPC Headline: Breakthrough Research at ICR London Offers New Hope for Prostate Cancer Patients with Drug NXP800 London, UK — Researchers at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London have announced promising results for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) with a drug known as NXP800. The innovative treatment, which has already shown progress in trials for ovarian and bile duct cancers, could offer new hope for prostate cancer patients whose conditions have become resistant to standard hormone therapies. The ICR’s research focuses on NXP800’s ability to target a vital biological pathway known as Heat Shock Factor 1 (HSF1), which plays a crucial role in helping cancer cells survive under stress. This pathway is particularly important in mCRPC, a more aggressive form of prostate cancer that is resistant to treatments like enzalutamide. By inhibiting the pr...

Vanquish® Water Vapor Ablation System, Francis Medical Steams Out Prostate Cancer The Vanquish® Water Vapor Ablation System, developed by Francis Medical, Inc. , represents an innovative approach to treating prostate cancer using water vapor (steam) to ablate cancerous tissue. This minimally invasive technique aims to target and destroy prostate cancer cells while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue, potentially reducing common side effects associated with traditional treatments like surgery and radiation, Mechanism of Action:  The Vanquish system utilizes the thermal energy stored in sterile water vapor to ablate cancerous prostate tissue. During the procedure, a catheter is inserted through the urethra into the prostate, delivering water vapor directly to the targeted tissue. As the vapor condenses back into liquid, it releases stored thermal energy, effectively destroying the cancerous cells. This method is designed to respect the prostate's natural boundaries, ...

Negative Biopsy provides info in AS Negative Biopsy Results Offer Hope for Prostate Cancer Patients on Active Surveillance New research shows that negative confirmatory and follow-up biopsies significantly reduce the risk of prostate cancer reclassification, offering better long-term outcomes for patients. By [ChatGPT] In the evolving landscape of prostate cancer treatment, active surveillance (AS) is emerging as a key strategy for managing low-risk cases. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis published in January 2025 reveals promising findings for patients undergoing active surveillance: negative biopsy results—both confirmatory and follow-up—are strongly associated with a reduced risk of cancer reclassification and upgrading. Active surveillance has become a go-to option for men diagnosed with low-risk or favorable intermediate-risk prostate cancer. Instead of immediately opting for more aggressive treatments like surgery or radiation, patients are closely monitored thr...

AR-V7 Pathway Breakthrough Study Reveals AR-V7's Role in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Progression In a significant advancement in prostate cancer research, a recent study has uncovered how AR-V7, a splice variant of the androgen receptor (AR), drives oncogenic transcriptional programs in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Conducted by an international team of researchers, the study highlights AR-V7's ability to form biomolecular condensates independently of androgen stimulation, a discovery that sheds light on its critical role in treatment resistance and disease progression. The findings reveal that AR-V7 forms liquid-like nuclear foci in CRPC models, bypassing the need for androgen stimulation required by the full-length AR (AR-FL). These condensates facilitate enhanced expression of genes associated with the oncogenic KRAS pathway, marking a pivotal step in understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying CRPC. "This research represents a breakth...

Changes in Patient Care Experience After Private Equity Acquisition of US Hospitals | Health Care Quality | JAMA | JAMA Network Check Who Owns It: Research Shows Patient Care Deteriorates After Private Equity Hospital Takeovers Patient care quality and satisfaction significantly decline after private equity firms acquire hospitals, according to new research published in JAMA, raising fresh concerns about Wall Street's growing influence in American healthcare. The study, which examined 73 private equity-acquired hospitals and 293 control hospitals between 2008 and 2019, found that patient satisfaction scores dropped steadily after acquisition, with the decline worsening over time. By the third year after takeover, patient ratings fell by approximately 5 percentage points compared to non-acquired hospitals – a larger decline than seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator and current dean of Brown University's School of Pub...

Figure 1 . Bone scan (a, b) and [ 68 Ga]PSMA PET/CT (c–f) performed for primary staging of a 64 year old patient with prostatic adenocarcinoma, Gleason score = 4 + 5, PSA = 10.1 ng/ml. The bone scan shows a small area of uptake at the right pubic bone (b). Fused transaxial images (c–e) and MIP (f) of the PSMA PET/CT scan confirm the right pubic bone lesion (c, f) and show further PSMA-positive bone lesions with intense PSMA uptake in the left pubic bone (d, f) and left ischio-pubic ramus (e, f). CT, computed tomography; MIP, maximum intensity projection; PET, positron-emission tomography; PSA, prostate-specific antigen; PSMA, prostate-specific membrane antigen. PSMA PET Imaging Emerges as Leading Tool for Advanced Prostate Cancer Monitoring A comprehensive review led by Dr. Martina Di Franco and colleagues at the University of Bologna's Nuclear Medicine Division has highlighted the growing importance of PSMA PET/CT imaging in assessing tr...