Latest news with #metastaticcancer
CBC
31-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
New treatments could turn advanced prostate cancer into a 'chronic disease' instead of a death sentence
Social Sharing Many people with advanced prostate cancer are living much longer due to new treatments, leading prostate cancer doctors say. Though they're not often a cure, these innovations are turning a disease once considered a death sentence into a chronic illness that can be managed for years in some patients. Dr. Laurence Klotz, a urologic oncologist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and chair of prostate cancer research at the Toronto hospital, said patients with metastatic prostate cancer — meaning it's spread to other parts of the body — live "roughly twice as long now as they did 10 or 15 years ago, which is really a significant achievement." "The disease can be controlled, often for a long time — but a cure is generally not in the cards," Klotz told Dr. Brian Goldman, host of CBC podcast The Dose. When former U.S. president Joe Biden announced recently that he'd been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that had spread to the bone, it raised questions about what the prognosis might be like for him and for others whose prostate cancers aren't detected at earlier stages. Biden's case may be "at the worst end" of a spectrum of prostate cancers, said Klotz. That's not only because the disease has spread but because of how quickly his cancer cells are likely to duplicate based on how they look under a microscope. But that scenario is quite rare, Klotz says. "So whereas, say, 15 years ago, the average patient with metastatic prostate cancer would live about three years, now the survival is more like five to six years," he said. There are also "big ranges around that estimate," said Klotz, who is also a professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. "You have some patients who may live 10 or 15 years despite having metastatic disease. And unfortunately, you have others where the disease progresses very rapidly, despite all these new therapeutic advances, and the patient can sometimes die within a year." Thomas Flannery is among those whose advanced prostate cancer has been managed for many years. The Toronto resident was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2011 at 56, when his family doctor decided to run a prostate-specific antigen blood test as part of a routine physical. That led to a biopsy, which found cancer in both halves of the prostate gland and in the seminal vesicles, glands that produce the fluid that becomes semen. "I ended up having a radical prostatectomy with Dr. Klotz at Sunnybrook, and following that I went on three years of what's called androgen deprivation therapy," said Flannery. At that time, the disease had already spread to Flannery's lymph nodes. New treatments Androgen deprivation therapy suppresses the body's testosterone production, a hormone most prostate cancer needs to survive. It's part of a host of treatments Flannery has needed over the years, including a course of chemotherapy in 2020. New treatment options can be key to extending people's lives. The standard androgen deprivation therapy works by telling the testicles to stop producing testosterone, said medical oncologist and prostate cancer researcher Dr. Kim Chi. "Over the past five to 10 years, we know that just doing that alone, although it's very effective initially, the cancer can come back quite quickly," said Chi, who is also vice-president and chief medical officer at BC Cancer. That's because the cancer draws testosterone from other places in the body, such as the adrenal gland, and additionally, prostate cancer can produce its own testosterone, he says. However, a new class of drugs, called androgen receptor pathway inhibitors, block the body's ability to absorb those sources of testosterone, Chi said. "Not only are we blocking the gasoline, which is the testosterone, we're also blocking the receptor — or blocking the engine from actually receiving that gasoline," he said. "It's like putting a blockage in the fuel line." Extending your life Having these new drugs available has dramatically improved survival rates, said Chi, who is also a professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. For the portion of prostate cancers that are shown to be associated with gene mutations, promising new drugs that target the genes seem poised to prolong life even further, he said, as do drugs that deliver strong, targeted radiation directly to the prostate cancer at a molecular level. "I'd like to see this turned into a chronic disease that we just manage and keep under control. No, we may not cure it, but we can keep it controlled for many years," said Chi. "If I can manage somebody for five, 10, 15, 20 years until something else inevitably takes your life, then we've done a good job, too, and I think we can get there." Lifestyle factors Now 70, Flannery says he advises others with advanced prostate cancer to stick closely to their drug regimens but also to pay close attention to lifestyle factors. He said he adheres to a Mediterranean diet because of its health benefits and has significantly reduced how much red meat he eats. "The other thing that's extremely important and really difficult to explain to people is the need to do exercise." A healthy diet and regular exercise help counter some of the negative effects of androgen deprivation therapy, he said, which can include metabolic syndrome — something that can cause weight gain around the midsection. "It's important to keep your weight to a trim amount," he said. "You don't have to be a gym rat, but you need to get yourself into shape so that you don't get secondary comorbidities like diabetes." WATCH | Dr. Peter Black on Joe Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis Vancouver doctor on Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis 12 days ago Duration 5:09 At 70, Flannery is now retired from his job in the aerospace industry and works as a patient advocate, consulting with researchers on new treatment protocols. He's started a national support group for people with advanced prostate cancer and provides peer counselling. "Right now, I'm being the general contractor for the build of a new house," said Flannery. "I like to ride a bicycle. I like to ski both cross-country and downhill." He and his wife also enjoy sailing. All this, despite the fact that Flannery's disease has now metastasized extensively, including to the pleura, the sac that surrounds the lungs. "So currently I'm relatively healthy. Outward, no one would know that I have prostate cancer," he said. "I just have to take drugs every day."
CNN
19-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
President Biden's metastatic prostate cancer diagnosis: What you need to know
EDITOR'S NOTE: Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt is a urologist and robotic surgeon with Orlando Health and an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida's College of Medicine. President Joe Biden's diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer has understandably raised concerns and questions: How long has he had cancer, how will he be treated, and what is his prognosis? As a urologist, I regularly diagnose prostate cancer in my patients, and each time I share the diagnosis with them and their family, it's never easy. Over time, I've learned the importance of keeping conversations simple and straightforward — avoiding sugar-coating and instead using data, statistics and personal experience to help patients begin their cancer journey. As his public announcement draws attention to this type of cancer, it's a reminder to regularly check on your own health. Here's what you need to know about metastatic prostate cancer: how it's detected, what treatments look like, and why early screening remains essential for men's health. The former president's diagnosis began after he experienced 'increasing urinary symptoms,' his office said, and a prostate nodule was discovered. The detection of a prostate nodule likely happened during a digital rectal examination (DRE). During a DRE, a doctor gently inserts a finger into the rectum to examine the prostate gland, located directly in front of the rectal wall. A healthy prostate typically feels smooth and symmetrical. A prostate nodule, however, feels firm, raised, and irregular — similar in texture to your knuckles. Not all prostate nodules indicate cancer — many are benign and associated with conditions enlarged prostate (BPH), or prostate stones (calcifications). However, in Biden's case, further testing — likely including a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, imaging and biopsy — confirmed prostate cancer. Additional scans revealed that his cancer had spread to his bones, classifying it as high-risk, aggressive metastatic prostate cancer. 'Metastatic' means the cancer cells have spread beyond the original location (the prostate gland) into other areas — most commonly bones and lymph nodes. Biden's cancer has specifically spread to his bones, placing him among the 5% to 7% of prostate cancer cases in the United States that are metastatic at initial diagnosis. While this percentage seems small, it represents a significant number given that over 300,000 men in the US and approximately 1.5 million worldwide are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. Early-stage prostate cancer carries an excellent prognosis, with nearly a 100% five-year survival rate. However, when prostate cancer is metastatic at diagnosis, the five-year survival rate drops sharply to around 37%. Importantly, these survival rates are statistical averages, and individual outcomes vary considerably based on overall health, age, cancer aggressiveness, and how well a patient responds to treatment. For Biden — and all prostate cancer patients — this diagnosis marks the beginning of a highly personalized journey. It remains impossible right now to accurately answer the question, 'How long do I have?' Which of course is the question everyone wants answered. Why your Gleason score matters Prostate cancer severity is graded using a Gleason score, which ranges from 6 to 10. Lower scores (6–7) indicate slower-growing, less aggressive cancer cells, while higher scores (8–10) represent aggressive cancers more likely to spread quickly. Biden's Gleason score of 9 signifies a highly aggressive prostate cancer that usually requires immediate and comprehensive treatment. In my clinic, the moment of diagnosing advanced prostate cancer is always difficult, evoking fear, uncertainty and many questions. At that moment, I ask the patient to take a deep breath, slow down and work together as we build a care team. This multidisciplinary team may include specialists from urology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology and supportive care services. Each specialist contributes a unique perspective, helping to create a treatment plan that has the best interest of the patient and their life goals. Prostate cancer treatment options Localized prostate cancer can often be cured with treatments such as robotic-assisted prostate removal (prostatectomy) or radiation therapy. However, metastatic prostate cancer treatment shifts from cure to managing symptoms, controlling disease progression and maintaining quality of life. Common treatments for metastatic prostate cancer include: Hormone therapy (androgen deprivation therapy, ADT): Blocks testosterone, essential for prostate cancer cell growth. Chemotherapy: Drugs to slow cancer growth, particularly when hormone therapy alone is insufficient. Radiation therapy: Targets metastatic lesions, reducing pain and symptoms, especially in bones. Immunotherapy and precision medicine: Treatments leveraging the immune system to attack cancer cells or therapies targeting specific genetic markers. Supportive care: Symptom relief and quality-of-life enhancement. Advanced treatments effectively control metastatic prostate cancer but often come with side effects affecting daily life. Common side effects include fatigue, changes in sexual function, hot flashes, mood swings, and loss of muscle mass. Treatment for metastatic prostate cancer depends on several factors: the patient's overall health, age, other medical conditions and personal preferences. President Biden's medical team will carefully personalize his treatment, aligning it closely with his unique health circumstances and quality-of-life goals. How to take care of my prostate health? A common question emerging from Biden's diagnosis is whether his cancer could have been detected sooner or if it impacted him during his presidency. The President of the United States gets excellent medical care, and the truth is that we may never know. Instead of getting stuck on these unanswerable questions, I recommend we refocus on something we can control: our own health. Biden's diagnosis is a powerful reminder of our responsibility and opportunity to proactively manage our health. As a urologist, I experience daily how unpredictable prostate cancer can be. Some patients show clear signs of the disease, while others surprise even me with aggressive or unexpected cases. Cancer doesn't discriminate, and its trajectory can be uncertain. But one factor we can all control is our approach to prevention and early detection. Symptoms to watch for are blood in the urine or semen; needing to urinate more often, including waking up at night to urinate; and trouble getting started when urinating. Signs of more advanced disease can also include accidental leaking, pain in the back and bones, fatigue, weight loss and weakness. Former President Biden's experience should be a call to action for us: Schedule regular health checkups, discuss prostate screening with your health-care provider, pay attention to your body's signals, and prioritize overall health. By shifting the conversation from speculation about someone else's journey to actively engaging in your own, you're investing in the most priceless and valuable asset you have — your health.
CNN
19-05-2025
- Health
- CNN
President Biden's metastatic prostate cancer diagnosis: What you need to know
EDITOR'S NOTE: Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt is a urologist and robotic surgeon with Orlando Health and an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida's College of Medicine. President Joe Biden's diagnosis of metastatic prostate cancer has understandably raised concerns and questions: How long has he had cancer, how will he be treated, and what is his prognosis? As a urologist, I regularly diagnose prostate cancer in my patients, and each time I share the diagnosis with them and their family, it's never easy. Over time, I've learned the importance of keeping conversations simple and straightforward — avoiding sugar-coating and instead using data, statistics and personal experience to help patients begin their cancer journey. As his public announcement draws attention to this type of cancer, it's a reminder to regularly check on your own health. Here's what you need to know about metastatic prostate cancer: how it's detected, what treatments look like, and why early screening remains essential for men's health. The former president's diagnosis began after he experienced 'increasing urinary symptoms,' his office said, and a prostate nodule was discovered. The detection of a prostate nodule likely happened during a digital rectal examination (DRE). During a DRE, a doctor gently inserts a finger into the rectum to examine the prostate gland, located directly in front of the rectal wall. A healthy prostate typically feels smooth and symmetrical. A prostate nodule, however, feels firm, raised, and irregular — similar in texture to your knuckles. Not all prostate nodules indicate cancer — many are benign and associated with conditions enlarged prostate (BPH), or prostate stones (calcifications). However, in Biden's case, further testing — likely including a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test, imaging and biopsy — confirmed prostate cancer. Additional scans revealed that his cancer had spread to his bones, classifying it as high-risk, aggressive metastatic prostate cancer. 'Metastatic' means the cancer cells have spread beyond the original location (the prostate gland) into other areas — most commonly bones and lymph nodes. Biden's cancer has specifically spread to his bones, placing him among the 5% to 7% of prostate cancer cases in the United States that are metastatic at initial diagnosis. While this percentage seems small, it represents a significant number given that over 300,000 men in the US and approximately 1.5 million worldwide are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year. Early-stage prostate cancer carries an excellent prognosis, with nearly a 100% five-year survival rate. However, when prostate cancer is metastatic at diagnosis, the five-year survival rate drops sharply to around 37%. Importantly, these survival rates are statistical averages, and individual outcomes vary considerably based on overall health, age, cancer aggressiveness, and how well a patient responds to treatment. For Biden — and all prostate cancer patients — this diagnosis marks the beginning of a highly personalized journey. It remains impossible right now to accurately answer the question, 'How long do I have?' Which of course is the question everyone wants answered. Why your Gleason score matters Prostate cancer severity is graded using a Gleason score, which ranges from 6 to 10. Lower scores (6–7) indicate slower-growing, less aggressive cancer cells, while higher scores (8–10) represent aggressive cancers more likely to spread quickly. Biden's Gleason score of 9 signifies a highly aggressive prostate cancer that usually requires immediate and comprehensive treatment. In my clinic, the moment of diagnosing advanced prostate cancer is always difficult, evoking fear, uncertainty and many questions. At that moment, I ask the patient to take a deep breath, slow down and work together as we build a care team. This multidisciplinary team may include specialists from urology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology and supportive care services. Each specialist contributes a unique perspective, helping to create a treatment plan that has the best interest of the patient and their life goals. Prostate cancer treatment options Localized prostate cancer can often be cured with treatments such as robotic-assisted prostate removal (prostatectomy) or radiation therapy. However, metastatic prostate cancer treatment shifts from cure to managing symptoms, controlling disease progression and maintaining quality of life. Common treatments for metastatic prostate cancer include: Hormone therapy (androgen deprivation therapy, ADT): Blocks testosterone, essential for prostate cancer cell growth. Chemotherapy: Drugs to slow cancer growth, particularly when hormone therapy alone is insufficient. Radiation therapy: Targets metastatic lesions, reducing pain and symptoms, especially in bones. Immunotherapy and precision medicine: Treatments leveraging the immune system to attack cancer cells or therapies targeting specific genetic markers. Supportive care: Symptom relief and quality-of-life enhancement. Advanced treatments effectively control metastatic prostate cancer but often come with side effects affecting daily life. Common side effects include fatigue, changes in sexual function, hot flashes, mood swings, and loss of muscle mass. Treatment for metastatic prostate cancer depends on several factors: the patient's overall health, age, other medical conditions and personal preferences. President Biden's medical team will carefully personalize his treatment, aligning it closely with his unique health circumstances and quality-of-life goals. How to take care of my prostate health? A common question emerging from Biden's diagnosis is whether his cancer could have been detected sooner or if it impacted him during his presidency. The President of the United States gets excellent medical care, and the truth is that we may never know. Instead of getting stuck on these unanswerable questions, I recommend we refocus on something we can control: our own health. Biden's diagnosis is a powerful reminder of our responsibility and opportunity to proactively manage our health. As a urologist, I experience daily how unpredictable prostate cancer can be. Some patients show clear signs of the disease, while others surprise even me with aggressive or unexpected cases. Cancer doesn't discriminate, and its trajectory can be uncertain. But one factor we can all control is our approach to prevention and early detection. Symptoms to watch for are blood in the urine or semen; needing to urinate more often, including waking up at night to urinate; and trouble getting started when urinating. Signs of more advanced disease can also include accidental leaking, pain in the back and bones, fatigue, weight loss and weakness. Former President Biden's experience should be a call to action for us: Schedule regular health checkups, discuss prostate screening with your health-care provider, pay attention to your body's signals, and prioritize overall health. By shifting the conversation from speculation about someone else's journey to actively engaging in your own, you're investing in the most priceless and valuable asset you have — your health.
National Post
06-05-2025
- Business
- National Post
Zetagen Therapeutics Announces Successful Completion of Enrollment in Phase 2a Clinical Study of ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003) Metastatic Breast Cancer
Article content (690,000 patients annually are diagnosed with metastatic lytic bone lesions with only non-curative, palliative therapies available) Article content Article content ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003) is a first-of-its kind molecular pathway designed to resolve metastatic cancer lesions, inhibit pain, and regenerate bone Phase 2a study examines the safety and efficacy of ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003) for the treatment of metastatic bone lesions to the spine in Stage 4 breast cancer patients ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003) has the potential to be a curative treatment, without systemic limitations, for metastatic lytic breast cancer lesions to bone Article content SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Zetagen Therapeutics, Inc., a private, clinical stage, biopharmaceutical company focused on developing breakthrough therapies, via local administration, for metastatic and primary breast cancers, announced today they have successfully completed enrollment in their phase 2a study, which will evaluate ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003) in the treatment of spinal metastatic lytic breast cancer lesions ( #NCT05280067). Article content 'We are excited to reach another critical milestone in the development of ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003),' said Joe C. Loy, Zetagen's Chief Executive Officer. 'We launched this study with stage IV breast cancer patients suffering from spinal metastases, because we recognize their severe pain and how debilitating it is, and that current treatments remain largely palliative. Our objective with ZetaMet™ is to eliminate cancer cells responsible for bone destruction, alleviate pain, stimulate the regeneration of bone lost to lytic lesions, enhance overall quality of life, while improving survival rates.' Article content The 26-week study, conducted at the University of British Columbia, (UBC) Vancouver, BC, Canada, will evaluate the safety and efficacy of ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003) in treating vertebral bone defects created by lytic metastatic breast cancer. The study will measure the reduction of skeletal related events (SRE), pain, change in vertebral body defect size, and postoperative prescribed opioid use. The Company anticipates reporting top-line results early fourth quarter of 2025. Article content Zetagen expects to submit an Investigation New Drug (IND) application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ('FDA'), leveraging its FDA's Breakthrough designations. Article content ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003) is the first-of-its-kind, synthetic, small-molecule delivered via a proprietary controlled-release carrier intended to resolve metastatic breast cancer bone lesions, administered locoregionally, to inhibit pain while regenerating new bone, with the potential to increase survival rates. Article content ZetaMet's (Zeta-BC-003) small molecule mechanism of action (MOA) via a novel molecular pathway initiates a circuit which results in tumor cell death. Article content The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has recognized Zetagen's discoveries with multiple Breakthrough Designations including ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003). Article content Zetagen with FDA and Health Canada (HC) approval via their Expanded Access (Compassionate Use) programs has treated several patients with ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003) with results published in multiple peer-reviewed journals. Article content Peer-reviewed 2-year follow up clinical data published in 2023 on ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003) demonstrated resolution of 7 lytic lesions (radiated and non-radiated), reduction in pain, significant reduction in opioid pain medication (4-fold), prevention of vertebral fracture, and increased survival rate in a patient living with Stage 4 breast cancer. To view this publication via open access, go to: Article content Founded in 2015, Zetagen Therapeutics is a private, clinical-stage, biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing breakthrough therapies via local administration for metastatic and primary breast cancers. Article content The company's 'Zeta' platform encompasses the following breast oncological drug candidates ZetaMet™ (Zeta-BC-003), ZetaMAST™ (Zeta-MBC-005) and (NEW) ZetaPrime™ (Zeta-PBC-007). To learn more, visit Article content Zetagen will attend the upcoming San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) this December. Article content This press release contains certain forward-looking statements with the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Private Securities Litigation Reform Act, as amended, including those relating to the Company's product development, clinical and regulatory timelines, market opportunity, competitive position, possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, potential growth opportunities and other statements that are predictive in nature. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about the industry and markets in which we operate and management's current beliefs and assumptions. Source: Zetagen Therapeutics, Inc. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
