Informed Prostate Cancer Patient Support

Nomograms: Tools to Predict Treatment Success Research Shows Salvage Radiation Therapy Benefits for PSA Failure After Prostatectomy For the many men in our support group who have experienced rising PSA levels after a radical prostatectomy, deciding on the next treatment step can be challenging. Recent research from Japan offers new guidance on treatment options, with important implications for patients considering salvage radiation therapy (SRT). JCOG0401 Trial Shows Benefits of Early Salvage Radiation A randomized, multicenter, phase 3 clinical trial conducted in Japan (JCOG0401) has demonstrated that salvage radiation therapy is more effective than hormone therapy alone for men experiencing PSA failure after radical prostatectomy. The study, which included patients whose PSA had initially decreased to <0.1 ng/ml after surgery but then increased to 0.4-1.0 ng/ml, found that initiating salvage radiation therapy led to significantly longer time to treatment failure compared to st...

EMBARK results Enzalutamide Shows Significant Benefits for High-Risk Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer Patients According to EAU Definition New Analysis from EMBARK Trial Confirms Treatment's Value for European Criteria A recent post hoc analysis of the pivotal EMBARK trial has demonstrated that enzalutamide (Xtandi) provides significant benefits for patients with high-risk biochemically recurrent prostate cancer as defined by the European Association of Urology (EAU) criteria. The results, published in March 2025 in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases, reinforce the value of this treatment option for a broader patient population than originally studied. Key Findings The analysis showed that in patients meeting the EAU definition of high-risk biochemical recurrence: Metastasis-free survival (MFS) improved significantly with enzalutamide plus leuprolide combination therapy (hazard ratio 0.37) and with enzalutamide monotherapy (hazard ratio 0.57) compared to leuprolide...

New Research Shows Transperineal Biopsies Detect More Prostate Cancer TRANSLATE Trial Adds to Growing Evidence in Biopsy Approach Debate Recent research has shed new light on the ongoing debate between transperineal (TP) and transrectal (TR) prostate biopsy approaches. The TRANSLATE trial, presented at the European Association of Urology Annual Congress in Madrid last month, represents the largest randomized study of its kind with 1,126 participants. Led by Dr. Richard Bryant from the University of Oxford, the research found that the local anesthesia transperineal (LATP) approach detected 5.7% more clinically significant prostate cancers (Grade Group 2 or higher) compared to the transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) approach. Dr. Bryant emphasized that cancer detection is the primary goal of prostate biopsies, making this finding particularly significant. "I've always said that a man doesn't have a biopsy to avoid an infection," Dr. Bryant noted in an interview. "A m...

Representatives from UC San Diego and Pfizer gathered to celebrate the donation recently. PFIZER'S $1 MILLION DONATION TO BOOST PROSTATE CANCER EARLY DETECTION AT UC SAN DIEGO'S MOORES CANCER CENTER Major funding aims to improve screening access for prostate cancer patients in underserved San Diego communities Representatives from UC San Diego and Pfizer gathered to celebrate the donation recently. From left, Matthew Jenusaitis, MD, Chief Administrative Officer for UC San Diego Health; John M. Carethers, MD, Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences; Jeffrey Settleman, Senior Vice President, Chief Scientific Officer, Oncology Research and Development, Pfizer; Diane M. Simeone, MD, Director of Moores Cancer Center; Elena Martinez, Associate Director of Population Science at Moores Cancer Center; Jesse Nodora, Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement at Moores Cancer Center; and Kelly Farrell, Head of Business Operations, Oncology Research and La Jolla Affair...

Biodegradable Spacers: A Game-Changer in Reducing Radiation Side Effects for Prostate Cancer Patients For men undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer, one of the most significant concerns has been potential damage to the rectum, which sits directly adjacent to the prostate. Recent advances in biodegradable spacer technology are showing remarkable promise in protecting patients from these unwanted side effects, with compelling evidence now available from multiple clinical trials. New Meta-Analysis Confirms Benefits A comprehensive 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis published in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases has provided definitive evidence supporting the use of biodegradable peri-rectal spacers. The study, led by researchers including Chris Ho-Ming Wong and colleagues, analyzed data from 17 studies involving over 3,200 patients. The results were striking: patients with spacers experienced significantly lower rates of late rectal toxicity (1.62% vs. 9.35%) an...