Breakthrough in prostate cancer: New therapy significantly extends lifespan!

Breakthrough in prostate cancer: New therapy significantly extends lifespan!

The treatment of prostate cancer has made significant progress in recent years. Early detection of the disease is particularly crucial as it dramatically increases the chances of survival. However, if diagnosed late, metastases can significantly worsen the prognosis. A research team from Germany has now developed an innovative combination of active ingredients that extends the lives of patients with metastatic prostate cancer and at the same time improves their quality of life. These results were published in the scientific journal Clinical Nuclear Medicine published.

The study, led by Ezziddin and his team, was conducted over a period of eight years. A previous pilot study in 2019 demonstrated the effectiveness of a combination of lutetium-177 and actinium-225 in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. This larger study included 51 patients who did not respond to standard therapy. Lutetium-177 has a limited effective radius and precisely targets prostate tumors, while actinium-225 can irradiate even the smallest tumors.

Advances in radioligand therapy

Recent research shows that standardized therapies with lutetium-177, such as lutetium-177-prostate-specific membrane antigen (Lu 177-PSMA) radioligand therapy, represent a promising strategy for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. This method has gained a lot of attention in recent clinical trials, particularly in one of the first large trials, the VISION trial. This demonstrated the oncological effectiveness and survival benefits of the therapy as part of salvage treatment for metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Further clinical studies have shown that the combination of Lu 177-PSMA with chemotherapy or androgen receptor inhibitors leads to improved results, highlighting the targeted use of this therapy across different disease stages. Read more about it on PubMed.

The results of the study on lutetium and actinium are encouraging: the median life expectancy of the patients was 13 months, with 10 months of which passed without tumor growth. The tumor mass also decreased by an average of 50%. This new combination therapy shows promising approaches to improving the quality of life and lifespan of affected patients.

Certification of clinics

In addition to innovative therapies, the experience of the treating clinics is crucial for the success of the therapy. Clinics can become certified if they have sufficient experience in the treatment of prostate cancer and meet certain criteria. To maintain the certificate, clinics must demonstrate annually that they continue to meet these standards. It is important to find out in advance how many patients are being treated in the respective clinic. According to the annual report of the German Cancer Society, an average of 229 patients were treated at certified prostate cancer centers in 2020, which points to the relevance of well-founded and experienced institutional care. More detailed information can be obtained directly from the clinics by telephone and is also available here Cancer Information Service to find.