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How effective is Casodex for prostate cancer?

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Nov 22, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Casodex (biclutamide) is an anti-androgen type of hormone therapy used to treat prostate cancer that has metastasized (spread to other parts of the body.)
When Casodex is used in combination with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analog (either leuprolide depot or goserelin implant) Casodex + LHRH analog are

  • more effective than leuprolide on its own
  • is just as effective as flutamide + leuprolide.

A clinical study for Stage D2 Prostate Carcinoma comparing leuprolide with leuprolide + flutamide showed:

  • leuprolide + flutamide treatment increased survival time by 7 months which was a 25% improvement

Another clinical trial was completed comparing treatment of Casodex + LHRH analog with flutamide + LHRH analog for Stage D2 Prostate Carcinoma. The results showed both treatment options had similar effects with no significant difference between:

  • survival time (time to death)
  • time to tumor progression
  • quality of life
References

Read 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

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

Zytiga is taken with prednisone to help manage side effects that might occur with this prostate cancer treatment. Zytiga blocks the production of cortisol from your adrenal glands. Prednisone helps to replace the lost cortisol that can cause side effects such as low blood potassium levels, fluid build up (edema), or high blood pressure. Continue reading

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