Prostate Cancer Evolution through the Decades

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the world today, being the fourth most common in 2012 based on new cases, composed of almost 8 % of total cancers^[i]. It is also the most common cancer found in men today. However, treatment and prognosis have improved greatly in modern times, with a five year survival rate estimated at 99.6 % by most recent statistics, as opposed to 66 % in 1970^[ii].

Prostate Cancer

Diagnosis, treatment and follow up have seen large advances, with screening of men at risk via rectal examination with routine patient check-ups as well as the identification of the prostate cancer biomarker PSA (prostate specific antigen), which is linked to a higher probability of prostate cancer when it is elevated. Public health campaigns have also greatly improved patient awareness in the “watchful wait” process, where men over 50 should look out for the onset of symptoms such as frequent urination, painful micturition or lower back pain.

Prostate cancer treatment is typical to other cancers, combining chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy where applicable. Taj Accura Pharmaceuticals offer a broad range of oncology products to an international market, of which can successfully treat prostate cancer, ensuring a reduction in health care costs while allowing for a good quality of life following treatment.

This is also a hormone sensitive cancer, much like estrogen receptor positive breast cancer, which leads to inappropriate tissue growth following estrogen receptor activation. Prostate cancer relies on androgens in the body such as testosterone and its more potent metabolite dihydrotestosterone synthesised from the testes. Flutamide is a drug offered by Taj Accura Pharmaceuticals in 250mg tablets, which acts as an androgen receptor antagonist, which blocks hormone action in the prostate, which leads to a suppression in cell division, this will ideally suppress prostate tumour growth. Flutamide is typically co-administered with a gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, which blocks the negative feedback loop leading to a complete decrease in androgen synthesis in vivo. This comes from a study, which looked into the need for Flutamide with a GnRH agonist, Leuprolide which showed a statistically significant prolongation of progression free survival when compared to leuprolide alone^[iii]. Flutamide and Goserelin, a luteinizing hormone releasing agonist (LHRH-A) has also been shown to be an advantageous regimen to removal of the testicles for complete androgen blockade in metastatic prostate cancer patients, showing an increased survival rate as well as an improved quality of life without organ removal^[iv].

Following androgen blockade, many prostate cancers become resistant however. Studies are currently being conducted, and one in particular has identified new biomarkers in the disease. In a study published last month^[v], a G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) was identified that promoted cell progression, independent of androgen concentration or influence. The receptor was also linked to promoting androgen receptor expression within the cell, thus it could potentially act as a future inhibitor to prevent cell division in the prostate, potentially with a monoclonal antibody depending on specificity of the receptor to the prostate in the event of castration resistance.

^[i] Extracted From http://www.wcrf.org/int/cancer-facts-figures/worldwide-data, Accessed 02.03.15

^[ii] Extracted from http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/prost.html, Accessed 02.03.15

^[iii] Crawford, E David et al. “A controlled trial of leuprolide with and without flutamide in prostatic carcinoma.” New England Journal of Medicine 321.7 (1989): 419-424.

^[iv] Denis, LJ et al. “Goserelin acetate and flutamide versus bilateral orchiectomy: a phase III EORTC trial (30853).” Urology 42.2 (1993): 119-130.

^[v] Patel, Nitin et al. “Expression and Functional Role of Orphan Receptor GPR158 in Prostate Cancer Growth and Progression.” PloS one 10.2 (2015): e0117758.Prostate Cancer Evolution through the Decades – Taj Dearob Pharma | Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the world today, being the fourth most common in 2012 based on new cases, composed of almost 8 % of total cancers. It is also the most common cancer found in men today. However, treatment and prognosis have improved greatly in modern times, with a five year survival rate estimated at 99.6 % by most recent statistics, as opposed to 66 % in 1970
Prostate Cancer Evolution through the Decades – Taj Dearob Pharma | Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in the world today, being the fourth most common in 2012 based on new cases, composed of almost 8 % of total cancers. It is also the most common cancer found in men today. However, treatment and prognosis have improved greatly in modern times, with a five year survival rate estimated at 99.6 % by most recent statistics, as opposed to 66 % in 1970