Dr. Logothetis Discusses Prostate Cancer Therapy

Christopher J. Logothetis, MD, Department Chair, Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the wealth of new drugs available to treat prostate cancer.

The addition of 2nd generation androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) has resulted in an increased knowledge of androgen's roll in prostate cancer. Links have been developed throughout the natural history of the disease, including areas where androgen was not previously thought to play a roll.

The arsenal against prostate cancer continues to grow and now contains bone targeted therapies, radiopharmaceuticals, immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and new ADT agents. The onslaught of new agents demands an understanding of how to optimize in combinations. In some settings combinations enhance each drug, but in others there is a negative effect.

Logothetis suggests the creation of a handbook that helps physicians understand how to use these drugs wisely and effectively.