Dr. Ryan says that enzalutamide and abiraterone are both safe for long-term therapy. There is more corticosteroid toxicity with abiraterone during long-term therapy (>1.5 years), while with enzalutamide, fatigue and malaise can be present in the short term.
CASE 1: Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Andrew S. is a 62-year-old real estate attorney from Tampa, Florida. He is an active golfer and church volunteer.
Patient underwent radical prostatectomy 4.5 years ago (at age 58 years).
Postop PSA is undetectable. At 16 months postop, the patient’s PSA is 0.8 ng/mL; a repeat measurement is 0.9 ng/mL.
Patient receives radiotherapy (64-70 Gy in standard fractionation) without androgen deprivation therapy
One year after radiotherapy, the patient’s PSA level rose to 2.1 ng/mL; CT imaging shows a 3.2-cm lesion in an obturator and several retroperitoneal lymph nodes (LNs).
Combined androgen blockade (CAB) initiated with an LHRH agonist and bicalutamide
PSA nadirs at 0.65 ng/mL
Side effects of CAB noted, including hot flashes and weight gain
Following 22 months of CAB, the patient’s PSA again increases from 0.65 ng/mL to 1.1 ng/mL, and then to 3.2 ng/mL.
Testosterone is 20 ng/dL
Patient is asymptomatic
On CT scan, the prior LNs are unchanged
Bone scan is positive for multiple lesions in the pelvis
Bicalutamide is discontinued, and patient is enrolled in a clinical trial of an immunotherapy