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In this episode, David M. Albala, MD, and Sanoj Punnen, MD, discuss precision medicine and the use of biomarker tests in prostate cancer screening and detection.

Dr. Shawn Zimberg and Dr. Dean Laganosky discuss the BioProtect Balloon Transplant System, a rectal spacer for use in prostate cancer radiation.

“The study highlights the importance of considering how altering cell metabolism could impact prostate cancer and its response to treatment," says Jenna Giafaglione.

“This next-generation rectal spacing option is the first of its kind...and has the potential to provide an enhanced degree of protection from the genitourinary and rectal effects of prostate cancer radiation therapy,” said Dr. Laganosky.

Overall, Black men were 24% less likely to receive or be prescribed a novel hormonal therapy agent compared with White men.

The research projects are assessing combination therapies in advanced prostate cancer that include the use of relugolix.

The FDA has approved enzalutamide for use with or without a GnRH analog therapy for the treatment of patients with nonmetastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer.

“These findings suggest that to reduce health disparities for Veterans in the prevention of prostate cancer, clinicians should consider an individual Veteran’s risk for prostate cancer including factors such as race and age," says Kyung Min Lee, PhD.

"This large registry study with data from varied practice settings, incorporating the most commonly used treatment modalities, provides useful data on the long-term mortality outcomes," writes Badar M. Mian, MD.

"Keeping up-to-date is challenging, and rapid progress that is now occurring in our field is truly amazing," writes Michael S. Cookson, MD, MMHC, FACS.

“It was interesting to find that when Black and White men were provided equal access to the same therapies, given at the same dosage and monitored in the same setting, disparities in outcomes were eliminated," says Jun Gong, MD.

The FDA’s Fast Track designation is designed to expedite the review and development of novel treatments that will fill an unmet medical need.

Patients were nearly twice as likely to develop urinary symptoms and urinary frequency when their prostatic urethra was greater than 4.6 cm in length.

“Relugolix is the first approved ADT in Canada that can be administered orally, and once daily, offering a safe and effective option for advanced prostate cancer patients in the country," said Fred Saad, MD.

The phase 3 EMBARK trial showed that enzalutamide plus leuprolide reduced the risk of metastasis or death by nearly 60% vs leuprolide alone in patients with nonmetastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer with high-risk biochemical recurrence.

“The ClarityDX Prostate test will reduce the number of unnecessary prostate biopsies, which are invasive, uncomfortable, and carry some risk,” says John D. Lewis, PhD.

Preliminary findings from the study showed a decrease in PSA levels across all doses of PDS0301 assessed.

The phase 2 study explored the investigational agent BXCL701 in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer.

"A lot of patients with prostate cancer are going to receive one of these agents," says Tanya B. Dorff, MD.

Patients who underwent treatment with SBRT demonstrated a 5-year disease control rate of 96%, compared with 95% among patients who underwent conventionally fractionated radiation therapy.

The PSE test was shown to improve the predictive accuracy of a standard PSA test from 55% to 94%.

The addition of SBRT to upfront abiraterone acetate and prednisone (AAP) reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 65% compared with AAP alone in patients with oligometastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

“[These] results imply that prostate cancer survival could be improved, especially in historically under-served groups, by improving the timeliness of access to medical care," says Sean Clouston, PhD.

UCSF is West Coast leader for the innovative, minimally invasive treatment for prostate cancer patients.

The inclusion of PAE in the American Urological Association BPH Guidelines offers a non-surgical alternative that can provide long-term relief with minimal downtime and fewer complications, according to the United Urology Group.

The Focal One high intensity focused ultrasound system uses precision sound waves to destroy prostate tumor tissue and spare healthy tissue, reducing the risk of side effects that would lower a patient's quality of life.

"FPSA is an important, inexpensive, and readily available test in our risk-stratification toolbox," writes Badar M. Mian, MD.

"This could make a huge impact for patients with limited resources,” says Benjamin Pockros, MD, MBA.

"Encouraging our patients to adopt a healthy, plant-based diet is a great way to simultaneously promote both prostate and overall health," writes Stacy Loeb, MD, MSc.

Men who had a dorsal testosterone/peripheral testosterone ratio greater than 2 were found to have higher rates of PSA persistence compared with patients who had a similar ratio.