by A new study conducted by researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital has found that the chemotherapy drug docetaxel may significantly improve the prognosis and reduce death rates in men with high-grade prostate cancer and low prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. The findings of the study, which included a meta-analysis of five prospective randomized clinical trials (RCTs), were published today in JAMA Network Open.
The study aimed to investigate whether adding docetaxel to standard-of-care (SOC) treatment could increase the cure rate in patients with a poor prognosis due to high-grade prostate cancer and low PSA levels. The meta-analysis included RCTs that compared SOC treatment with either radiotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy or radical prostatectomy, with SOC plus docetaxel.
The final study cohort comprised 2,184 patients, including 145 eligible patients (6.6%) from four eligible RCTs. The researchers focused on 139 of these patients who had an excellent performance status (PS), as determined by their ability to tolerate the full course of chemotherapy. According to Dr. Anthony Victor D’Amico, Chief of Genitourinary Radiation Oncology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and senior author of the study, an excellent PS indicates that patients may benefit from the treatment if it proves effective.
Among the 139 patients with excellent PS, the addition of docetaxel to SOC treatment was associated with a significant 70% reduction in prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) and a nearly 50% reduction in all-cause mortality. Notably, this treatment approach decreased the 10-year PCSM rate from nearly 40% to less than 10%, resulting in a 10-year overall survival rate of 80% compared to the standard rate of 60%.
This breakthrough offers a significant improvement in survival for patients in this particular group who currently have limited treatment options, commented Dr. D’Amico.
The results suggest that docetaxel may be an effective treatment option for men with high-grade prostate cancer and low PSA levels, leading to a considerable reduction in mortality rates. This finding is particularly significant considering that these patients typically have a poor prognosis and limited treatment alternatives.
Further research is warranted to explore the potential benefits of incorporating docetaxel into standard treatment approaches for prostate cancer. The study’s findings provide a strong basis for encouraging further investigation and potential clinical trials to validate the results and expand treatment options for this poor prognostic group of patients.
In conclusion, the addition of docetaxel to standard-of-care treatment in patients with high-grade prostate cancer and low PSA levels demonstrated a remarkable reduction in prostate cancer-specific mortality and all-cause mortality rates. This breakthrough offers new hope and improved survival outcomes for patients in this particular group, who currently face limited treatment options. The study’s findings emphasize the potential benefits of incorporating docetaxel into standard treatment approaches and call for further research and clinical trials to validate these promising results.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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