Sequencing systemic therapies in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Men with prostate cancer will not die of the disease until it progresses to the metastatic castration resistant stage. At that stage, the median survival is 9 to 30 months.

METHODS: Recently approved and emerging treatments for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) were reviewed based on their mechanisms of action, as well as sequencing and combining these treatments with existing options.

RESULTS: Advances in androgen deprivation therapy, immunotherapy, bone-targeted therapy, and chemotherapy have led to approvals of abiraterone acetate, sipuleucel-T, denosumab, and cabazitaxel for the treatment of mCRPC. Despite improvements in patient survival and quality of life, mCRPC remains incurable.

CONCLUSIONS: With the emerging new therapies, this is an unprecedented time in treating mCRPC. A better understanding of their mechanisms of action, the genetic makeup of each mCRPC, and the development of new prognostic and predictive biomarkers will help determine sequencing or different combination treatments for each individual patient.