Urology Practice Management Considerations & Treatment Selection for Special Populations with Metastatic CRPC

Christopher M. Pieczonka, MD and Jose De La Cerda, MD, MPH share their expertise in managing metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), focusing on the demographics in their distinct clinical practices and unique challenges they encounter nuances of treatment.  

Dr. Jose De La Cerda and Dr. Christopher M. Pieczonka shed light on their approach to prescribing medicines for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). They highlight the importance of patient access to care, discuss the availability of various therapies, including novel hormonal agents and infusions, and anticipate a positive shift in treatment accessibility in the coming years due to government initiatives.

Dr. Christopher M. Pieczonka and Dr. Jose De La Cerda discuss the various formulations of abiraterone, including micronized and non-micronized forms in combination with prednisone or methylprednisolone, including safety and effectiveness. They share insights on the specific patient populations for whom micronized abiraterone is particularly beneficial, how patient specific needs or comorbidities influence treatment appropriateness. They also delve into the accessibility of these formulations, emphasizing the importance of proper diagnosis codes to enhance medication approval processes.

In this episode, Dr. Christopher M. Pieczonka and Dr. Jose De La Cerda explores the differences in dosing and administration of abiraterone acetate products, including the impact of food effects, and optimizing therapy for special populations with comorbidities like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. They share insights from their clinical experience on patient compliance, tolerability, and quality of life improvements with micronized abiraterone.

In this episode, Dr. Christopher M. Pieczonka and Dr. Jose De La Cerda discuss the nuances of prescribing abiraterone acetate related to strategies for patient counseling on prednisone and methylprednisolone use and managing steroid-related side effects, dosing adjustments in patients with liver issues, emphasizing the importance of close monitoring and individualized care in prostate cancer treatment.

In this episode, experts share their perspectives from their urology practices on addressing challenges such as insurance coverage, access issues, and the frequency of prior authorization (PA) denials and subsequent appeals. Co-panelists emphasize the need for additional information required by physicians to effectively appeal PA denials. Dr De La Cerda highlights the support his urology practice provides to meet the needs of his unique patient population.

Expert urologists discuss the impact of their formulary on prescribing abiraterone for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), emphasizing its use in special patient populations and the importance of accessibility. They highlight the role of educational support and collaboration with manufacturers in facilitating access to treatments not typically included in the formulary, especially for unique patient groups. They emphasize the importance of manufacturer collaboration, Medicare changes, and specialized programs for aiding low-income seniors, underscoring the commitment to enhancing patient access and compliance in healthcare.

In this video, experts share their opinion on the potential for novel combination therapies involving micronized abiraterone, particularly in conjunction with PARP inhibitors like olaparib or niraparib, as evidenced in clinical trials such as PROpel and MAGNITUDE. Additionally, they highlight other potential novel combinations like abiraterone with prednisolone and enzalutamide (STAMPEDE trial), and the integration of abiraterone in treatments involving radiation and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).