Health Breakthrough: New Prostate Cancer Drug Boosts Survival Rates, Study Finds
July 3, 2019
This article by Kate Creedon was published by Nine News on 3rd June 2019.
The initial findings of the study, led by the Australian and New Zealand Urogential and Prostate (ANZUP) Cancer Trials Group and presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago, suggest the drug could also benefit patients when used alongside hormone therapy.
The study involved 1,125 men. Results showed 80 per cent of the men who received enzalutamide were alive after three years, compared with 72 per cent of those who received the standard treatment.
Overall, the risk of death decreased by around a third (33 per cent) among men receiving enzalutamide.
Dr Francis Parnis, an oncologist and co-author of the ANZUP trial study, said the research provides a strong case to give the drug “earlier in the disease process”.
“Even after a short period of follow up, there was a 30 per cent improvement in the survival of people treated with this drug early on,” he told 9 News.
“There's more and more evidence that our best drugs are probably best used earlier in the piece.”
In Australia, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men, claiming about 3,500 lives each year.
Owen Reid, 68, was diagnosed with prostate cancer 10 years ago. He underwent surgery and was put on hormone therapy.
But after receiving the news his cancer had “spread” to the lymph nodes, the retired police officer was delivered some hope in the form of the drug trial.
He's been taking enzalutamide for the past three years. His prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, levels are now undetectable.
“Fortunately, I was put on the trial early enough and I think I'm reaping the benefits of that now,” he told 9 News. “At this stage, I'll live forever.”
