Prostate cancer cells use hormones like androgens to grow and progress rapidly. Moreover, a targeted androgen receptor inhibitor blocks the androgen receptor in cancer cells. Unlike therapies like chemo, which kill all rapid-dividing cells, it targets cancer cells. In addition, this can help to decrease disease progression and spread in the body.
What is Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer?
This type of prostate cancer is a cancer which depends on male hormones, like testosterone, to grow and survive. Also, when the levels of hormones get reduced, it can affect prostate cancer growth. Therefore, prostate cancer is sensitive towards hormones’ presence.
What Is Apalutamide?
Apalutamide is an oral targeted hormone therapy medicine. Also, it belongs to the class of androgen receptor inhibitors. This can actively block testosterone from binding to cancer cells. On the other hand, swallow the tablets whole with or without food.
How Does Apalutamide Work?
It works by blocking the androgen receptor’s ligand-binding domain. Moreover, this stops the androgen from binding to the androgen receptor of the cancer cells. Thus, this action can inhibit cancer from growing and dividing. Also, it can reduce cancer load inside the body.
When Is Apalutamide Used?
There are certain uses, like:
- Advanced prostate cancers
- Non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
- Metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer
Benefits of Apalutamide Therapy
The benefits are as follows:
- Prolongs survival
- Delays cancer progression
- Decrease cancer spread
- Reduce cancer load
- Lowers tumor size
Possible Side Effects
Patients can have different side effects which can also change from patient to patient. Therefore, there are a few side effects which are common and serious. They are as follows:
Common side effects
- Fatigue
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Rashes
- Itching
- Joint pain
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- High blood pressure
- Weight loss
Serious side effects
- Seizures
- Skin Reactions
- Bone Fractures & Falls
- Heart attack
- Liver and lung problems
What are the brands?
- ERLEADA 60mg
- PROSTAXEN 60mg
Monitoring During Treatment
Check-ups are essential for each therapy and treatment for advanced cancers. Moreover, treatment requires blood tests, tracking cancer response and reducing side effects. On the other hand, when patients undergo side effects, they should report to their doctor.
The Future of Hormone-Targeted Therapy
Hormone-targeted therapy is redefined by precision treatments. Precision treatment targets gene mutations, proteins which promote cancer growth. Also, it can aid in mix-up regimens and drugs to overcome tumor resistance. There are different future therapies, like the following:
- Next-Generation Degraders
- Rational mix-up Therapies
- Precision-Guided Biomarkers
- Broadening Indications
Interaction with other medicines
This therapy can interact with certain medicines and cause side effects. However, there are a few medicines which can help to fight cancer. Moreover, it can react with Relugolix (Rexigo 120mg Tablet) and helps to destroy cancer cells. Also, this can interact with Docetaxel (Docel 120mg Injection) and aid in treating prostate cancer.
Conclusion
Androgen receptor blocking can treat advanced prostate cancer in men. Moreover, it can block the growth signals which can starve the cancer. This can cause programmed cell death of cancer cells. Furthermore, the medicine has certain side effects which are doable with time. Doctors suggest constant check-ups to avoid side effects during treatment. Also, it can interact with specific medicines to decrease disease progression.
FAQs
What is hormone-sensitive prostate cancer?
This cancer relies on male sex hormones for its growth. Moreover, these hormones control the growth and death of cancer cells.
Why are patients shifting towards targeted therapy rather than chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy works by killing all rapid-dividing cells, which can also include healthy cells. Thus, it can cause more side effects. However, targeted therapy targets cancer cells’ growth signals and pathways, sparing healthy cells.
References
- Chi, K. N., Agarwal, N., Bjartell, A., Chung, B. H., Pereira de Santana Gomes, A. J., Given, R., … & Chowdhury, S. (2019). Apalutamide for metastatic, castration-sensitive prostate cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 381(1), 13-24. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1903307
- Smith, Matthew R., et al. “Apalutamide treatment and metastasis-free survival in prostate cancer.” New England Journal of Medicine 378.15 (2018): 1408-1418. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1715546
- Smith, M. R., Saad, F., Chowdhury, S., Oudard, S., Hadaschik, B. A., Graff, J. N., … & Small, E. J. (2021). Apalutamide and overall survival in prostate cancer. European urology, 79(1), 150-158. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030228382030628X
- Chung, C., & Abboud, K. (2022). Targeting the androgen receptor signaling pathway in advanced prostate cancer. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 79(15), 1224-1235. https://academic.oup.com/ajhp/article-abstract/79/15/1224/6564851
- Al-Salama, Z. T. (2018). Apalutamide: first global approval. Drugs, 78(6), 699-705. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40265-018-0900-z
