Video: Treating Androgen Independent Prostate Cancer Without Chemotherapy
Mark Scholz, MD – Prostate Oncology Specialists
Marina del Rey, CA

In this presentation, Dr. Scholz discussed the parameters for determining hormone refractory prostate cancer such as a rising PSA or one that fails to drop below 0.05 using Testosterone Inactivating Pharmaceuticals. He reviewed the pros and cons of available secondary hormonal manipulations including: anti-androgens, ketoconazole and estrogens. He emphasized these should normally be used only for men with slow-growing cancer. He also discussed the use of drugs that enhance the immune system and/or provide anti-angiogenic activity like Thalidomide, Revlimid and Leukine.

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT also called hormone blockade or testosterone inactivating pharmaceuticals) is a primary treatment of prostate cancer that is outside the prostate at diagnosis or recurrent after local therapy. When ADT fails to fully control the cancer, the type and timing of further treatment depends on the aggressiveness of the cancer and the patient’s ability to tolerate anticipated side-effects. While chemotherapy may be suggested, milder treatments discussed here can often provide effective cancer control with less morbidity.

This presentation was one of several given at the Prostate Cancer Research Institute’s September, 2006 conference “Improving Treatment and Quality of Life For Men with Recurrent and Advanced Prostate Cancer” held in Los Angeles, CA, USA. The Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to improve the quality of men’s lives by supporting research and disseminating information that educates and empowers patients, families and the medical community.

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