New prostate cancer drugs are on the horizon
Patients in the U.S. can save money on treatments for a number of diseases by shopping through a Canadian internet pharmacy.
Patients in the U.S. can save money on treatments for a number of diseases by shopping through a Canadian internet pharmacy. These businesses sell medications for conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and breast cancer. According to one review published in the journal Oncology, four new drugs that target prostate cancer may one day be available at these drugstores, as well.
"It's not just chemotherapy. The drugs have different and innovative methods of action. One is a bone protective agent; another's a more effective hormone agent; another is radiotherapy; and the final one is the first drug tested for cancer immunotherapy," said review author E. David Crawford, MD.
Denosumab is currently used to prevent fractures in cases of bone metastases and strengthen the bones during hormone therapy. It is currently being reviewed for the purposes of preventing bone malignancies related to prostate cancer.
Alpharadin is a drug that emits beta radiation, which would provide more targeted therapy against bone metastases.
The vaccine-like medication Prostvac trains the immune system to target and attack prostate cancer cells. Clinical trials demonstrated that they can increase survival time from 16.6 months to 25.1 months.
Scientists also developed a more efficient anti-testosterone medication known as Abiraterone Acetate. Blocking production of the androgen can hamper prostate cancer growth.
These medications may help turn advanced prostate cancer into a chronic disease instead of a fatal one, Crawford said.
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