Informed Prostate Cancer Patient Support

Real-World Study Confirms High Adherence to Oral Relugolix in Medicare Patients with Prostate Cancer New Research Validates Practical Benefits of First Oral ADT Drug Bottom Line Up Front: A major new study of over 5,000 Medicare patients found that men with prostate cancer showed excellent adherence to relugolix (Orgovyx), the first oral androgen deprivation therapy, with 93% maintaining proper medication adherence over 24 months. This real-world data supports the drug's practical utility beyond clinical trials. A groundbreaking study published in the AUA Journals provides reassuring evidence that relugolix, the first and only oral androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for advanced prostate cancer, demonstrates excellent patient adherence in real-world clinical practice. The research analyzed Medicare claims data from over 5,000 patients and found remarkably high rates of medication adherence and persistence. Study Highlights Dr. Stephen J. Freedland and colleagues ...

Trends in Prostate Cancer Screeing Breaking the Silent Epidemic: New Developments in Prostate Cancer Screening and Detection A Comprehensive Update for the Informed Prostate Cancer Patient Support Group Executive Summary Recent high-profile diagnoses, evolving screening guidelines, and groundbreaking research trials are reshaping the landscape of prostate cancer detection and early intervention. As one survivor's story illustrates the life-saving potential of timely screening, new evidence from major European trials and updated professional guidelines are refining our understanding of optimal screening strategies. The Wake-Up Call: A Personal Story and National Reminder The ongoing debate over prostate cancer screening gained renewed urgency following former President Joe Biden's May 2025 diagnosis with aggressive, metastatic prostate cancer (Gleason score 9). Biden's case—discovered after urinary symptoms led to the finding of a prostate nodule—represents th...

Major Breakthrough: FDA Expands Pluvicto Approval for Earlier Use in Advanced Prostate Cancer Bottom Line Up Front: The FDA's March 2025 expansion of Pluvicto (177Lu-PSMA-617) approval represents a paradigm shift in treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, now allowing use before chemotherapy and tripling the eligible patient population. The PSMAfore trial demonstrated a 59% reduction in disease progression risk compared to switching hormone therapies. A Game-Changing Development for Men with Advanced Disease On March 28, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted expanded approval for Pluvicto (lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan), marking one of the most significant advances in prostate cancer treatment in recent years. This groundbreaking decision allows men with PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) to receive this targeted radioligand therapy much earlier in their treatment journey—before chemotherapy...

New study reveals LINE1 transposable elements create regulatory networks that help tumors resist hormone therapy For the Informed Prostate Cancer Support Group Newsletter Key Findings at a Glance A groundbreaking study published in bioRxiv on August 12, 2025, has uncovered a previously unknown mechanism by which metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) develops resistance to androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSIs) like enzalutamide and abiraterone. The research reveals how "jumping genes" called transposable elements—specifically LINE1 elements—become hijacked by cancer cells to create new regulatory networks that drive aggressive tumor growth and treatment resistance. What Are "Jumping Genes" (Transposable Elements)? Transposable elements , nicknamed "jumping genes," are pieces of DNA that can move or copy themselves to different locations in our genome. Think of them like ancient viral remnants that have been passed ...

What Every Prostate Cancer Patient Should Know About Statistical Significance Written for the Informed Prostate Cancer Support Group (IPCSG) Newsletter As prostate cancer patients and their families navigate the complex world of clinical research, understanding how to interpret study results becomes crucial for making informed treatment decisions. A recent comprehensive review published in the Red Journal (International Journal of Radiation Oncology) highlights why the p-value—a statistical measure that determines whether research findings are "significant"—deserves our attention, especially given the ongoing debates in the medical community about its proper use and interpretation. The P-Value in Context: Two Prostate Cancer Trials Tell the Story Consider this real-world scenario from recent prostate cancer research: Two major clinical trials examined whether adding radiotherapy to the prostate improves survival for men with low-volume metastatic disease. Bot...