Does Xtandi lower prostate-specific antigen (PSA)?
A decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels is seen in some men with advanced prostate cancer who are treated with Xtandi (enzalutamide).
PSA is a protein made by prostate cells. It is mainly found in semen, with only small amounts normally being found in the bloodstream.
Levels of PSA in the blood can become elevated when there is a problem with the prostate, such as when prostate cancer develops. A PSA test, which involves measuring PSA levels in a small amount of blood, can be used to help screen men for prostate cancer.
PSA levels can also be elevated for other reasons, however. Prostatitis, age, benign prostatic hyperplasia, irritations or infections, and other factors can also increase PSA levels, so a single elevated PSA level alone is not used to diagnose prostate cancer. PSA screening is a useful first step to help identify, which men need further testing.
Xtandi and monitoring PSA levels
Xtandi is an androgen receptor inhibitor and works by blocking the action of testosterone at the androgen receptor - reducing how often androgens can connect with the receptor - which helps prevent prostate cancer cells from growing and spreading.
Monitoring PSA levels in the blood is one of the methods used to determine how prostate cancer is responding to treatment with Xtandi. Rising PSA levels during treatment may indicate the treatment is no longer working.
During clinical trials, researchers count the number of men whose PSA levels reduce by 50 percent or more following the initiation of treatment with Xtandi. This is one of the ways in which they assess how well Xtandi is working.
References
- Prostate Cancer Foundation. The PSA Test. Available from: https://www.pcf.org/about-prostate-cancer/what-is-prostate-cancer/the-psa-test/. [Accessed December 10, 2020].
- Prostate Cancer Foundation. What are Some Other Causes of a High PSA? Available from: https://www.pcf.org/blog/what-are-some-other-causes-of-a-high-psa/. [Accessed December 10, 2020].
- Xtandi. Xtandi Patient Starter Kit. Available from: https://www.xtandi.com/pdf/patient-starter-kit.pdf. [Accessed December 10, 2020].
- Hussain M, Fizazi K, Saad F, et al. Enzalutamide in Men with Nonmetastatic, Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2018;378(26):2465-2474. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1800536.
- Scher HI, Fizazi K, Saad F, et al. Increased survival with enzalutamide in prostate cancer after chemotherapy. N Engl J Med. 2012;367(13):1187-1197. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1207506.
- Beer TM, Armstrong AJ, Rathkopf DE, et al. Enzalutamide in metastatic prostate cancer before chemotherapy. N Engl J Med. 2014;371(5):424-433. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1405095.
- Armstrong AJ, Szmulewitz RZ, Petrylak DP, et al. ARCHES: A Randomized, Phase III Study of Androgen Deprivation Therapy With Enzalutamide or Placebo in Men With Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2019;37(32):2974-2986. doi:10.1200/JCO.19.00799.
Read next
Why has Xtandi stopped working and what do I take next?
Prostate cancer cells, like bacteria, can evolve over time and become resistant to treatments, including the hormone therapy and androgen receptor inhibitor Xtandi (enzalutamide). The cancer cells work to reprogram their environment and develop strategies that enable them to transform and survive.
If treatment with Xtandi stops working then other treatments may be offered, such as:
- Chemotherapy
- Immunotherapy
- Targeted therapy
- Radiotherapy
Stopping treatment with Xtandi may also result in an antiandrogen withdrawal response (AAWR), which can cause the cancer to stop growing or shrink for the period of time.
Continue reading
How long does Xtandi work?
Xtandi is typically taken until prostate cancer starts to progress or spread (metastasize), or until the patient can no longer tolerate therapy because of the side effects or adverse events it causes.
In clinical trials, Xtandi was effective at delaying the time to disease progression in men with advanced prostate cancer. In men who had not received prior treatment with chemotherapy, Xtandi was also effective at delaying the need for treatment with a cytotoxic chemotherapy agent.
In the AFFIRM trial, treatment with Xtandi extended life by almost 5 months in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. Continue reading
Xtandi vs Zytiga: How do they compare?
Xtandi (enzalutamide) and Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) are both drugs that are used in the treatment of prostate cancer. Results from various analyses indicate that Xtandi is more effective than Zytiga in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer that has spread or metastasized, although it’s more commonly associated with fatigue. Continue reading
See also:
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