Chemotherapy

Many novel chemotherapeutic agents are currently in development for the treatment of prostate cancer.  In general there are three major kinds of trials examining the role of new chemotherapy agents in prostate cancer therapy.

1. Trials aimed at testing novel agents:  These trials are investigating novel chemotherapeutic agents that appear promising in animal models to see if they are safe and active in patients with prostate cancer. These are typically phase I and II trials and are usually targeted to patients with advanced (metastatic) prostate cancer who may already have been treated with standard hormonal therapy in the past. 

2.Trials examining agents that have already been shown to be active in other cancers: These trials are investigating agents have been shown to be active in another form of cancer to see if it has activity in prostate cancer. Sometimes novel combinations of agents are also being investigated. These are typically phase II studies and are usually targeted to patients with advanced (metastatic) prostate cancer who may already have been treated with standard hormonal therapy and chemotherapy in the past.

3. Trials seeking to expand the role of drugs already shown to be active in prostate cancer: These trials are usually trying to define a novel role for an agent or new combination of agents that already has been shown to have activity in the treatment of prostate cancer. For example, such a trial might be adding an agent that is known to have activity in advanced (metastatic) prostate cancer to a standard regimen to see if it enhances efficacy of the regimen. These are typically phase II or III trials. There are many new chemotherapy agents currently in various stages of development. Hopefully clinical trials will lead to the continuing evolution of more effective strategies for prostate cancer treatment.