Transformative Advances in Prostate Cancer Care

Transformative Advances in Prostate Cancer Care: 2025 Achievements Reshape the Treatment Paradigm

TL;DR - Key Achievements of 2025

FDA Approvals: Five major approvals expanded treatment options including Akeega for BRCA2-mutated early metastatic disease (54% progression reduction), rucaparib full approval for BRCA-mutated mCRPC, darolutamide for hormone-sensitive disease, Pluvicto earlier in treatment sequence (59% progression reduction), and new PSMA PET imaging agent.

Clinical Trial Breakthroughs: CAN-2409 gene therapy became first new localized prostate cancer treatment in 20+ years (30% recurrence reduction). TALAPRO-2 showed 8.8-month survival improvement with PARP inhibitor combinations. Terbium-161 radioligand achieved 70% response rate with minimal toxicity.

Diagnostic Revolution: AI systems reached clinical maturity for MRI and pathology interpretation, matching expert performance. PSMA PET solidified as standard of care with updated national guidelines and predictive value for therapy selection.

Research Discoveries: Scientists identified reversible mechanisms of treatment resistance (NSD2 pathway, FOXA2/NKX2-1 proteins, PDIA enzymes), opening doors to overcome aggressive disease transformation. Heat shock pathway inhibitors showed promise for hormone therapy-resistant cancer.

Quality of Life: Multiple studies confirmed supervised exercise programs significantly improve outcomes, with combined aerobic/resistance training showing greatest benefits. Shorter interventions (≤12 weeks) particularly effective.

Health Disparities: Studies proved access-to-care, not genetics, drives racial disparities. Black men have 2x mortality vs White men, but equal outcomes in equal-access systems. Systemic healthcare barriers identified as primary problem requiring policy solutions.

Bottom Line: 2025 delivered precision medicine targeting specific mutations, earlier use of effective radioligand therapy, breakthrough gene therapy for localized disease, AI-enhanced diagnostics, and actionable insights into overcoming resistance—while highlighting urgent need to address healthcare access inequities.

---

Introduction: A Landmark Year for Prostate Cancer Patients

As 2025 draws to a close, the prostate cancer community can reflect on twelve months of extraordinary progress that has fundamentally altered the landscape of diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes. This year witnessed breakthrough FDA approvals, practice-changing clinical trial results, revolutionary diagnostic technologies reaching widespread clinical adoption, and unprecedented advances in understanding disease biology. From novel targeted therapies and next-generation radioligand treatments to artificial intelligence-enhanced diagnostics and innovative combination strategies, 2025 has delivered tangible benefits to patients at every stage of disease.

With an estimated 313,780 new prostate cancer cases and 35,770 deaths projected for 2025, the disease remains a significant public health challenge.(1) However, the therapeutic arsenal expanded dramatically this year, offering hope to men across the disease spectrum—from those with newly diagnosed hormone-sensitive disease to those with heavily pretreated castration-resistant prostate cancer. This comprehensive review examines the year's most significant achievements, drawing from clinical trials, regulatory approvals, research publications, and industry developments that collectively represent a transformative period in prostate cancer medicine.

FDA Approvals Expand Treatment Options

Precision Medicine for BRCA2-Mutated Disease

December 2025 marked a pivotal advancement with the FDA's approval of an expanded indication for Akeega (niraparib and abiraterone acetate) plus prednisone for patients with BRCA2-mutated metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC).(2,3) This approval, based on the AMPLITUDE trial, represents the first precision medicine combination specifically for this aggressive molecular subtype.

The AMPLITUDE trial demonstrated remarkable efficacy, with the combination reducing disease progression risk by 54% compared to standard androgen deprivation therapy plus abiraterone and prednisone alone.(3) Patients with BRCA2 mutations, who typically face faster disease progression and shorter survival, now have a targeted therapeutic option that addresses their unique biology. The observed safety profile remained consistent with known effects of each component, making this a practice-changing development for molecularly selected patients.

PARP Inhibitor Achieves Full FDA Approval

On December 17, 2025, rucaparib (Rubraca) received regular FDA approval—converting its 2020 accelerated approval—for treating adults with BRCA-mutated metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) previously treated with androgen receptor-directed therapy.(4,5) The approval was supported by final results from the TRITON3 trial, which demonstrated significant improvement in radiographic progression-free survival compared to physician's choice of treatment (11.2 months versus 6.4 months; hazard ratio 0.50; p<0.0001).(5)

This full approval validates PARP inhibition as an established therapeutic strategy for BRCA-mutated prostate cancer and provides oncologists with an additional precision medicine tool for managing advanced disease in appropriately selected patients.

Darolutamide Gains Broader Indication

In June 2025, the FDA approved darolutamide (Nubeqa) as monotherapy for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), expanding beyond its previous indication requiring combination with docetaxel.(6) Based on the ARANOTE trial, this approval demonstrated that darolutamide significantly improved radiographic progression-free survival when combined with androgen deprivation therapy alone, providing an important option for patients who may not be candidates for chemotherapy-inclusive regimens.

Pluvicto Moves Earlier in Treatment Sequence

March 2025 brought expanded access to lutetium-177-PSMA radioligand therapy with the FDA's approval of Pluvicto for use earlier in the treatment sequence.(7) The expanded indication allows treatment of adults with PSMA-positive mCRPC who have been treated with an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor and are considered appropriate to delay taxane-based chemotherapy.

The PSMAfore trial, which supported this approval, demonstrated median radiographic progression-free survival of 9.3 months with Pluvicto versus 5.6 months with a different androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (hazard ratio 0.41; p<0.0001).(7) This 59% reduction in progression risk establishes PSMA radioligand therapy as a viable pre-chemotherapy option, potentially improving quality of life by delaying more toxic treatments.

Novel PSMA PET Imaging Agent Approved

The FDA approved Gozellix (gallium-68 gozetotide), a kit for preparation of PSMA PET imaging, expanding diagnostic options for prostate cancer patients.(8) This approval, supported by the PSMA-PreRP and PSMA-BCR trials, provides clinicians with additional tools for identifying PSMA-positive lesions in patients being considered for definitive therapy or experiencing biochemical recurrence.

Practice-Changing Clinical Trial Results

CAN-2409 Gene Therapy Demonstrates Efficacy in Localized Disease

One of 2025's most significant developments came from the Phase 3 trial of CAN-2409 (aglatimagene besadenovec), an investigational viral immunotherapy, which met its primary endpoint in intermediate-to-high-risk localized prostate cancer.(9,10) Presented at the ASCO Annual Meeting in June, results showed the therapy combined with radiation significantly improved disease-free survival compared to radiation alone.

The trial enrolled 745 patients randomized 2:1 to receive either CAN-2409 plus valacyclovir or placebo plus valacyclovir, all receiving external beam radiation.(9,10) The combination demonstrated a 30% reduction in the risk of prostate cancer recurrence or death (hazard ratio 0.7; p=0.0155) with median follow-up of 50.3 months.(10) This represents the first multicenter, randomized Phase 3 trial in over 20 years to meet both primary and secondary endpoints in localized prostate cancer, potentially establishing a new treatment paradigm for patients pursuing curative therapy.

TALAPRO-2 Final Results Support Combination Approach

The final overall survival analysis from the TALAPRO-2 trial, presented at ASCO-GU 2025, demonstrated that combining talazoparib (a PARP inhibitor) with enzalutamide significantly improved outcomes in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.(11) With median follow-up of 52.5 months, the combination showed an 8.8-month improvement in median overall survival and a 20.4% reduction in death risk compared to enzalutamide alone.(11) While the FDA ultimately did not expand the indication beyond HRR gene-mutated mCRPC,(12) the HRR-mutated subgroup showed particularly strong benefit with median overall survival of 45.1 months versus 31.1 months with enzalutamide alone.(12)

AMPLITUDE Trial Validates Precision Approach in Hormone-Sensitive Disease

Results from the Phase 3 AMPLITUDE trial, presented at ASCO 2025, demonstrated that niraparib combined with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone significantly improved outcomes in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer patients with homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene alterations.(13) The trial showed a 37% reduction in the risk of radiographic progression or death with the combination therapy, supporting the expanded FDA approval for BRCA2-mutated disease.(13)

Novel Radioligand Therapy Shows Promise

First-in-human results from the VIOLET trial, presented at ASCO 2025, demonstrated encouraging efficacy and safety for terbium-161-PSMA radioligand therapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.(14) This alpha-particle emitting radiopharmaceutical achieved a 70% PSA50 response rate and 40% PSA90 response rate with minimal toxicity.(14) No dose-limiting toxicities were observed, and only 7% of patients experienced Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events.(14) The median radiographic progression-free survival was 11 months, suggesting this next-generation radioligand may offer advantages for targeting micrometastases.

Diagnostic Revolution: AI Integration and Advanced Imaging

Artificial Intelligence Transforms Imaging Interpretation

The integration of artificial intelligence into prostate cancer diagnostics reached clinical maturity in 2025. Multiple AI-powered systems achieved widespread adoption for interpreting prostate MRI and histopathology, with demonstrated performance meeting or exceeding expert clinicians.(15,16,17)

A comprehensive review published in November 2025 highlighted how AI applications in multiparametric MRI (mpMRI), PSMA PET/CT, and transrectal ultrasound offer enhanced accuracy, efficiency, and consistency.(16) Advanced technologies including machine learning, deep learning, and radiomics are being applied for lesion detection, risk stratification, segmentation, biopsy targeting, and treatment planning.(16) AI-augmented systems have demonstrated ability to support PI-RADS scoring, automate prostate and tumor segmentation, guide targeted biopsies, and optimize radiation therapy.(16)

Studies showed that combining deep learning with preoperative PSMA PET/CT images yielded superior predictive accuracy compared to traditional nomograms, with AI achieving an AUC of 0.89 versus 0.79 for the MSKCC nomogram.(18) Additionally, AI can automate PSMA PET image processing, reducing time and subjectivity while enhancing image quality and lesion detection rates.(18)

PSMA PET Imaging Becomes Standard of Care

PSMA-targeted PET imaging solidified its position as the superior diagnostic modality for prostate cancer staging and restaging in 2025.(19,20,21) Multiple studies and meta-analyses published throughout the year confirmed PSMA PET's advantages over conventional imaging, particularly for detecting biochemical recurrence at low PSA levels.(19,20,21)

An umbrella review published in 2025 demonstrated that PSMA PET offers superior sensitivity in disease staging, with staging discrepancies between PSMA-based and conventional imaging significantly impacting therapeutic decision-making.(19) For biochemical recurrence patients with PSA less than 2.0 ng/mL, advanced reconstruction techniques using 2-mm voxels detected more lesions compared to standard 4-mm reconstruction, with reader positivity rates increasing from 65.6% to 75.0%.(19)

The NCCN guidelines version 1.2025 incorporated comprehensive recommendations for PSMA PET imaging across multiple clinical scenarios, including initial risk stratification for unfavorable intermediate, high, or very-high-risk localized disease, and evaluation of biochemical recurrence.(22) Studies confirmed that PSMA PET SUVmean serves as a predictive biomarker for response to Lu-177-PSMA-617 therapy, establishing the imaging modality's role beyond staging to treatment selection.(22)

Understanding Disease Biology: Research Breakthroughs

Mechanisms of Neuroendocrine Transformation Revealed

Two groundbreaking studies published in Nature and Nature Genetics in 2025 dramatically advanced understanding of treatment resistance mechanisms, particularly lineage plasticity and neuroendocrine differentiation—processes whereby prostate cancer cells transform into highly aggressive, treatment-resistant phenotypes.(23,24)

Researchers at Columbia University discovered that prostate cancer cells undergoing neuroendocrine transdifferentiation rely on specific epigenetic modifications mediated by the histone methyltransferase NSD2.(23) Importantly, the team identified compounds capable of inhibiting NSD2, which reversed lineage plasticity and restored drug sensitivity in preclinical models.(23) This discovery addresses a previously "undruggable" target and opens new therapeutic avenues for overcoming resistance to androgen receptor inhibitors.

Complementary research from Emory University published in July 2025 mapped the step-by-step process by which prostate cancer cells transform into neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), which occurs in up to 20% of advanced cases.(24) The team created the first-ever 3D map showing how DNA folds and loops inside cell nuclei during this deadly transformation.(24) They discovered that two proteins—FOXA2 and NKX2-1—play central roles, with FOXA2 opening normally inaccessible DNA regions and NKX2-1 activating genes that reprogram cells into NEPC.(24) The study also revealed that CBP and p300 enzymes are essential for this transformation, suggesting these represent therapeutic targets to prevent or reverse aggressive disease.

Androgen Receptor Stability Mechanisms Identified

Research published in November 2025 identified a previously unknown vulnerability in prostate cancer cells: their dependence on protein disulfide isomerases PDIA1 and PDIA5 to maintain androgen receptor stability.(25) An international team led by Flinders University discovered these enzymes act as "molecular bodyguards" for the androgen receptor—the primary driver of prostate cancer growth.(25)

When these enzymes were blocked experimentally, the androgen receptor lost stability and degraded, causing cancer cells to die and tumors to shrink in both laboratory cultures and animal models.(25) Most significantly, combining PDIA inhibitors with enzalutamide made standard treatment significantly more effective.(25) The researchers also found that blocking these enzymes disrupts cancer cell energy systems, striking the disease on multiple fronts.(25) This discovery could lead to treatments that overcome resistance in advanced prostate cancer.

Heat Shock Response Pathway Targeting

Research from The Institute of Cancer Research, London, published in January 2025, demonstrated that targeting the heat shock response pathway—which enables tumors to withstand stress and continue growing—represents a potential new avenue for treating advanced prostate cancer.(26) The team showed that the experimental drug NXP800 slowed prostate cancer growth, including in cells resistant to hormone therapy.(26)

In preclinical studies, NXP800 prevented 62.5% of hormone therapy-resistant tumors from doubling in size over 38 days, compared to all control tumors reaching this threshold.(26) The drug has received special FDA designations to speed development for multiple cancer types, including a subtype of ovarian cancer.(26)

Advances in Quality of Life and Supportive Care

Exercise Interventions Demonstrate Consistent Benefits

Multiple studies published in 2025 confirmed that structured exercise programs significantly improve quality of life and functional outcomes for prostate cancer patients, particularly those undergoing androgen deprivation therapy.(27,28,29,30)

A systematic review and meta-analysis published in November 2025 analyzing 26 randomized controlled trials with approximately 3,500 participants demonstrated that supervised exercise produced significant improvements in quality of life (standardized mean difference 0.46; p<0.001).(28) Combined aerobic and resistance training programs showed the greatest effects, with shorter interventions (12 weeks or less) yielding larger improvements.(28) The findings support integrating supervised exercise into standard oncological care.

A randomized feasibility trial published in 2025 specifically examined different exercise emphases during androgen deprivation and radiation therapy.(30) The study found that aerobic-emphasized training produced between-group differences favoring improvements in physical function and physical health role limitation measured by SF-36 scores.(30) Notably, aerobic-emphasized exercise appeared to counteract treatment-related reductions in hemoglobin, representing the first report of exercise potentially mitigating haematological changes during combined ADT and radiation therapy.(30)

Research from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study published in 2025 provided long-term observational evidence that sustained adherence to physical activity guidelines after prostate cancer diagnosis improves quality of life.(31) This large-scale study with extended follow-up offered precise estimates of the effectiveness of sustained physical activity strategies on both general and prostate cancer-specific quality of life domains.(31)

Multidisciplinary Supportive Care Advances

The Prostate Cancer Foundation's 32nd Annual Scientific Retreat, held in October 2025, showcased advances in supportive care alongside breakthrough discoveries.(32) Over 600 researchers and leaders gathered to spotlight innovations in targeted immunotherapies, theranostics, and artificial intelligence applications aimed at improving patient outcomes.(32) The retreat emphasized that advances in treatment must be accompanied by comprehensive supportive care to maximize patient benefit and quality of life.

Addressing Health Disparities: A Critical Focus

Persistent Racial Disparities Documented

Multiple studies published in 2025 provided sobering documentation of persistent and striking racial disparities in prostate cancer outcomes, spurring calls for systemic change.(1,33,34,35) The American Cancer Society's 2025 Prostate Cancer Statistics report revealed that Black men have a 67% higher incidence rate and are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer compared to White men.(1,50) American Indian/Alaska Native men showed 12% higher mortality despite 13% lower incidence compared to White men.(1,50)

A comprehensive review published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians in 2025 highlighted that racial disparities in prostate cancer mortality are driven primarily by socioeconomic factors, healthcare access barriers, and treatment disparities rather than genetics.(1,45) The review emphasized that continued increases in advanced-stage diagnosis and persistent racial disparities underscore the need for redoubled efforts to optimize early detection and address barriers to equitable outcomes.(1,45)

Research from Henry Ford Health published in February 2025 demonstrated that when Black and White men were matched for overall health status and access to care, prostate cancer-specific mortality became essentially equal.(33) This finding disputes genetic explanations for disparities and highlights that healthcare access inequities—including lack of insurance, distance from centers of excellence, healthcare bias, and transportation barriers—drive outcome differences.(33)

Understanding the Multifaceted Nature of Disparities

A literature review published in 2025 explored the complex, multifaceted nature of racial disparities in prostate cancer, evolving from institutional racism.(34,44) Cultural factors identified include generalized mistrust of the healthcare system stemming from historical mistreatment, poor physician-patient communication, lack of information about treatment options, fear of diagnosis, and perceived societal stigma.(34,44)

Economic factors such as cost of care, recovery time, and "cancer debt" play important roles in treatment disparities.(34) Black men are largely underrepresented in key Phase 3 prostate cancer trials and may be less willing to enroll due to lack of awareness, absence of diversity in clinical trial research teams, and healthcare provider bias in recommending clinical research.(34,44)

Studies confirmed that Black men in equal-access healthcare systems such as the Veterans Affairs or clinical trials with standardized treatment have similar or potentially improved prostate cancer-specific mortality compared to White men after accounting for clinical factors.(44,47) However, overall mortality remains higher in Black men due to death from other causes, reflecting broader healthcare access issues.(44,47)

Looking Forward: Emerging Directions and Challenges

As 2025 concludes, multiple promising directions are positioned to shape prostate cancer care in coming years. Novel androgen receptor degraders such as BMS-986365 have advanced to Phase 3 trials, offering hope for overcoming resistance to current AR-targeted therapies.(20) Bispecific antibodies and CAR-T cell therapies continue progressing through clinical development, with early results suggesting potential for heavily pretreated patients.(15)

The convergence of advanced imaging, comprehensive genomic profiling, liquid biopsy monitoring, and AI-powered risk stratification is enabling increasingly personalized treatment approaches. Circulating tumor DNA analysis is transitioning from research applications to clinical utility for monitoring treatment response and detecting emerging resistance mechanisms.(15)

However, significant challenges remain that must be addressed to realize the full potential of 2025's advances:

Treatment Access and Health Equity: Despite remarkable therapeutic advances, access remains limited by geography, insurance coverage, and socioeconomic factors. Black men, rural patients, and those with lower socioeconomic status are significantly less likely to receive advanced treatments even when clinically indicated.(33,34,41,50) Community-based interventions and mobile treatment delivery models show promise but require substantial expansion.(34)

Financial Toxicity: The high cost of novel therapies creates significant barriers and financial hardship for many patients. PARP inhibitors and radioligand therapies costing tens of thousands of dollars per month or treatment course necessitate expanded patient assistance programs and insurance coverage reforms.(34)

Clinical Trial Diversity: Underrepresentation of Black men and other minorities in clinical trials limits understanding of treatment efficacy across diverse populations. Decentralized trial models and increased community engagement are essential to achieving representative trial populations.(34,44)

Rising Incidence of Advanced Disease: Prostate cancer incidence rates have increased by 3.0% annually from 2014 to 2021, driven largely by increasing rates of advanced-stage diagnoses (4.6-4.8% per year).(1,50) This trend, potentially related to reduced PSA screening following 2012 USPSTF recommendations, necessitates refined early detection strategies that balance benefit and harm.(1,50)

Treatment Resistance: While novel therapies demonstrate impressive initial responses, virtually all men with metastatic disease eventually develop treatment resistance. Understanding mechanisms of resistance and developing strategies to prevent or overcome it remains paramount.(23,24,25)

Conclusion: Progress Realized, Work Remaining

The achievements of 2025 represent a remarkable period in prostate cancer medicine, with tangible advances improving outcomes for thousands of patients. FDA approvals of targeted therapies for molecularly defined subgroups, expansion of PSMA radioligand therapy to earlier treatment lines, novel gene therapy demonstrating efficacy in localized disease, and AI-enhanced diagnostic tools have collectively transformed practice.

Men diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2025 face better prospects than at any point in history. The array of effective treatments available throughout the disease course—from active surveillance enhanced by advanced imaging for low-risk disease through multiple lines of therapy for advanced disease—provides options that did not exist even a few years ago. Understanding of disease biology has advanced dramatically, with insights into lineage plasticity, treatment resistance mechanisms, and tumor vulnerabilities pointing toward next-generation therapeutic approaches.

Yet significant challenges temper celebration of progress. Not all patients respond to available therapies, resistance eventually develops in advanced disease, and substantial disparities limit access based on race, geography, and socioeconomic status. The financial burden of cutting-edge treatments creates barriers and imposes hardship on patients and families. Rising incidence of advanced-stage disease suggests gaps in early detection strategies.

The prostate cancer community—patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, advocates, and policymakers—must sustain the momentum of 2025. Continued support for research advancing understanding and developing new treatments remains essential. Clinical trials testing promising approaches must be accessible to diverse patient populations. Advocacy for insurance coverage, patient assistance programs, and health equity initiatives will help translate scientific advances into improved outcomes for all men with prostate cancer.

For members of the Informed Prostate Cancer Support Group and the broader community of patients and caregivers, 2025's achievements offer both celebration and motivation. Staying informed about evolving treatment options, maintaining open dialogue with healthcare providers, considering clinical trial participation when appropriate, and supporting continued research and advocacy efforts will help ensure that the progress of 2025 extends into 2026 and beyond. The journey continues, and while challenges remain, the trajectory is unmistakably positive.

---

References and Sources

1. Kratzer TB, Mazzitelli N, Star J, et al. Prostate cancer statistics, 2025. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2025. https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21854

2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves niraparib and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone for BRCA2-mutated metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. December 12, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-niraparib-and-abiraterone-acetate-plus-prednisone-brca2-mutated-metastatic-castration

3. Johnson & Johnson. U.S. FDA approves AKEEGA® as the first precision therapy for BRCA2-mutated metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer with 54% reduction in disease progression vs standard of care. Press Release. December 12, 2025. https://www.jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/u-s-fda-approves-akeega-as-the-first-precision-therapy-for-brca2-mutated-metastatic-castration-sensitive-prostate-cancer-with-54-reduction-in-disease-progression-vs-standard-of-care

4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA grants regular approval to rucaparib for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. December 17, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-grants-regular-approval-rucaparib-metastatic-castration-resistant-prostate-cancer

5. Oncology Nursing Society. FDA Grants Regular Approval to Rucaparib for Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. December 17, 2025. https://www.ons.org/publications-research/voice/news-views/12-2025/fda-grants-regular-approval-rucaparib-metastatic

6. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves darolutamide for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. June 3, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-darolutamide-metastatic-castration-sensitive-prostate-cancer

7. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA expands Pluvicto's metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer indication. March 28, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-expands-pluvictos-metastatic-castration-resistant-prostate-cancer-indication

8. CURE. All FDA Oncology Approvals From September 2025. October 12, 2025. https://www.curetoday.com/view/all-fda-oncology-approvals-from-september-2025

9. UroToday. ASCO 2025: Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of CAN-2409 + Prodrug in Combination with Standard of Care External Beam Radiation for Newly Diagnosed Localized Prostate Cancer. https://www.urotoday.com/conference-highlights/asco-2025/asco-2025-prostate-cancer/161273-asco-2025-phase-3-randomized-placebo-controlled-clinical-trial-of-can-2409-prodrug-in-combination-with-standard-of-care-external-beam-radiation-for-newly-diagnosed-localized-prostate-cancer.html

10. Candel Therapeutics. Candel Therapeutics Presents Positive Phase 3 CAN-2409 Results in Localized Prostate Cancer at ASCO 2025. May 22, 2025. https://ir.candeltx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/candel-therapeutics-presents-positive-phase-3-can-2409-results

11. Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology. Presented at ASCO GU 2025: Results of the phase 3 TALAPRO-2 trial support a new standard of care for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. February 13, 2025. https://vhio.net/2025/02/13/presented-at-asco-gu-2025-results-of-the-phase-3-talapro-2-trial-support-a-new-standard-of-care-for-metastatic-castration-resistant-prostate-cancer/

12. Pfizer. Pfizer Provides Update on U.S. Regulatory Review of TALZENNA in Combination with XTANDI for Broader Use in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. June 13, 2025. https://www.pfizer.com/news/announcements/pfizer-provides-update-us-regulatory-review-talzenna-combination-xtandi-broader

13. Medscape. Prostate Cancer Highlights From ASCO 2025. June 24, 2025. https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/prostate-cancer-updates-treatment-asco-2025-2025a100010w

14. UroToday. ASCO 2025: First-in-Human Results of Terbium-161 161Tb-PSMA-I&T Radioligand Treatment in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (VIOLET): A Single-Centre, Single-Arm, Phase I/II Study. https://www.urotoday.com/conference-highlights/asco-2025/asco-2025-prostate-cancer/161087-asco-2025-first-in-human-results-of-terbium-161-161tb-psma-i-t-radioligand-treatment-in-patients-with-metastatic-castration-resistant-prostate-cancer-violet-a-single-centre-single-arm-phase-i-ii-study.html

15. American Association for Cancer Research. Cancer in 2025: Funding, New Treatments, and Breakthrough Ideas. December 18, 2025. https://www.aacr.org/blog/2025/12/18/cancer-in-2025-funding-new-treatments-and-breakthrough-ideas/

16. Lee J, Choi MH, Lee S. Next-Generation Advances in Prostate Cancer Imaging and Artificial Intelligence Applications. Journal of Imaging. 2025;11(11):390. https://www.mdpi.com/2313-433X/11/11/390

17. Shen Z, Li Z, Li Y, et al. PSMA PET/CT for prostate cancer diagnosis: current applications and future directions. Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology. 2025;151:155. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12050236/

18. Chen X, Wang Y, Zhang L, et al. The Evolving Role of PSMA-PET/CT in Prostate Cancer Management: an Umbrella Review of Diagnostic Restaging, Therapeutic Redirection, and Survival Impact. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12227496/

19. Nikitas J, Unterrainer LM, Hope TA, et al. The Evolving Role of PSMA-PET/CT in Prostate Cancer Management: an Umbrella Review. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12227496/

20. Islam R, Desai S, Moran M, Golombos DM. The Role of PSMA PET Imaging in Prostate Cancer: Current Applications and Future Directions. Current Urology Reports. 2025;26(1):46. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40448740/

21. Ananthapadmanabhan A, et al. PSMA-PET – Prostate Cancer Imaging in the Modern Era. Trends in Urology & Men's Health. July 29, 2025. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/tre.70001

22. UroToday. PSMA and Beyond 2025: Impact of Clinical Guidelines on the Utilization of PSMA PET. November 20, 2025. https://www.urotoday.com/conference-highlights/2025-ucsf-ucla-psma-conference/159334-psma-and-beyond-2025-impact-of-clinical-guidelines-on-the-utilization-of-psma-pet.html

23. Medical Xpress. Reversing treatment resistance in prostate cancer: Study solves longstanding puzzle in tumor biology. December 8, 2025. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-reversing-treatment-resistance-prostate-cancer.html

24. Emory University. New study uncovers how prostate cancer becomes deadly and offers hope for new treatments. July 24, 2025. https://news.emory.edu/stories/2025/07/hs_prostate_cancer_research_24-07-2025/story.html

25. ScienceDaily. Hidden weakness makes prostate cancer self-destruct. Flinders University. November 10, 2025. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251110021056.htm

26. Prostate Cancer UK. New drug could treat prostate cancer that stops responding to hormone therapy. January 2025. https://prostatecanceruk.org/about-us/news-and-views/2025/01/new-drug-could-treat-prostate-cancer-that-stops-responding-to-hormone-therapy

27. May M, Gilfrich C, Enzinger B, et al. Exercise oncology in prostate cancer: from observational insight to prescriptive precision. British Journal of Cancer. September 16, 2025. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41416-025-03205-z

28. Cano-Uceda A, De Sousa-De Sousa L, Bueno-Fermoso R, et al. Improving Quality of Life Through Supervised Exercise in Oncology: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials in Breast and Prostate Cancer. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 2025;10(4):453. https://www.mdpi.com/2411-5142/10/4/453

29. García-Fernández P, et al. Exercise in patients with metastatic prostate cancer: A comprehensive review. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Reviews on Cancer. July 18, 2025. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305737225001185

30. Murphy K, Kehoe B, Denieffe S, et al. Comparing aerobic and resistance exercise emphasis during androgen deprivation and radiation therapy for prostate cancer: a randomised feasibility trial. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2025;33:601. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12181210/

31. Pernar CH, Devlin EA, Luo J, et al. Guideline-based physical activity and health-related quality of life among prostate cancer survivors: a target trial emulation in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. BMC Medicine. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12303623/

32. Prostate Cancer Foundation. Prostate Cancer Foundation's Scientific Retreat Showcases Latest Advancements From Renowned Leaders in Prostate Cancer Research. October 29, 2025. https://www.pcf.org/2025-pcf-scientific-retreat/

33. Henry Ford Health. Racial Disparities In Prostate Cancer Likely Due To Access-To-Care, Research Shows. February 4, 2025. https://www.henryford.com/blog/2025/02/racial-disparities-in-prostate-cancer

34. American Cancer Society. New Study Calls for Action to Reverse Course of Racial Disparities. February 24, 2025. https://www.cancer.org/research/acs-research-news/african-american-and-black-people-cancer-statistics-news-2025.html

35. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Disparities. 2025. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/understanding/disparities

36. Henry Ford Health. Racial Disparities In Prostate Cancer Likely Due To Access-To-Care, Research Shows. February 4, 2025. https://www.henryford.com/blog/2025/02/racial-disparities-in-prostate-cancer

37. Chowdhury-Paulino IM, et al. Racial Disparities in Black Men with Prostate Cancer: Epidemiology and Outcomes. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases. September 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8888766/

38. Kratzer TB, Mazzitelli N, Star J, et al. Prostate cancer statistics, 2025. CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. 2025. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12593258/

39. Powell IJ, Bock CH, Ruterbusch JJ, Sakr W. Evidence Supports a Faster Growth Rate and/or Earlier Transformation to Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer in Black than in White American Men. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases. 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9701576/

40. Urology Times. ACS report shows prostate cancer remains a significant public health challenge. December 2025. https://www.urologytimes.com/view/acs-report-shows-prostate-cancer-remains-a-significant-public-health-challenge

---

This article was prepared for the Informed Prostate Cancer Support Group Newsletter and represents a comprehensive review of prostate cancer advances during 2025. Information is derived from peer-reviewed publications, FDA announcements, clinical trial results, and major oncology conference presentations. Patients should discuss all treatment decisions with their healthcare providers, as individual circumstances vary significantly.