Dr. Dreicer on the Current Role of Abiraterone and Enzalutamide in Prostate Cancer

Robert Dreicer, MD, professor, University of Virginia Health System, discusses the current role of abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) and enzalutamide (Xtandi) for patients with prostate cancer.

Due to the recognition of cross resistance, clinicians make a judgement to use either abiraterone or enzalutamide as the initial therapy for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. If a patient receives 1 agent, they don’t immediately receive the other because there is a lower likelihood of response.

Clinicians have gotten comfortable using both agents and make decisions based on what they believe is the appropriate drug to use as an initial treatment, taking all toxicities into account.