Treatments for Metastatic and Advanced Prostate Cancer When cancer has spread outside of the prostate, there is no cure but there are treatments to slow its growth and improve quality of life. Learn about the major types of therapies, tools to help identify what options is right for you, and updates on new treatments. Jump To Jump To Treatment Options Treatment Updates Patients with Stage 4 (IV) metastatic prostate cancer often need a whole-body approach to treatment, using "systemic" therapies that travel throughout the body to target cancer that has spread. These therapies may be combined into "doublet" (two concurrent treatments) or "triplet" therapies.While Stage 3 (III) prostate cancer has also advanced to spread outside of the prostate, it's still in the surrounding tissue and bone, and is often addressed with localized treatment options similar to those used in early-stage disease.What's the best treatment for advanced prostate cancer?Multiple types of advanced prostate cancer therapies exist, with therapies that address pain caused by metastasis, strengthen the bones, slow the spread of disease, and improve quality of life. Treatment decisions ultimately come down to your specific diagnosis, personal values, and goals, so it's important to learn as much as you can, including which questions to ask your doctor about your treatment options. Treatment options for advanced prostate cancer A systemic therapy is any kind of treatment that targets or travels through the entire body. Some work by removing the hormones that fuel tumor growth, others activate your body's natural defences, or use a range of approaches to attack the cancer directly.Learn more about each of the types of treatment below, or take a look at a long list of pharmaceuticals that are prescribed for prostate cancer. List of Prostate Cancer Drugs Hormone therapy Hormone therapy is also called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), hormone deprivation therapy, or hormone suppression therapy. Hormone therapy stops or slows the body’s ability to make testosterone, aiming to stop tumor growth and/or shrink the tumor. Immunotherapy Immunotherapy treats the whole body by activating the immune system to recognize and destroy prostate cancer cells. It uses materials to improve, target, or restore immune function. Different types of immunotherapies include vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and others. Targeted therapy Targeted therapy uses drugs that are designed to find and attack cancer cells. They shut down specific proteins in cancer cells that help the cells divide, grow, and spread. Different types of targeted therapies include PARP inhibitors, PSMA targeted therapy, radioligand therapy, and others. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells throughout the body. They are given through the veins or orally, depending on the drug. Because chemotherapy also attacks other cells in the body, it may cause significant side effects. Radiopharmaceuticals Radiopharmaceuticals are medications that deliver radiation, typically given through a vein to men with metastatic prostate cancer that has spread widely to the bone. Clinical trials Clinical trials are research studies investigating experimental treatment to see if it is safe to use and effective in fighting a disease. They can be an important option for advanced prostate cancer patients. All treatments used today for prostate cancer are available because of past clinical trials. Play Video Close Want help finding the best treatment for you? Use our Interactive Decision Support Tool, developed in partnership with Clinical Care Options! This tool provides you with expert guidance on treatment options for advanced prostate cancer, based on characteristics you enter. Discover what’s available so you can work with your care team to make the right choices together. Patient Interactive Treatment Tool Play Video Close Treatment updates for advanced prostate cancer Dr. Alicia Morgans provides an overview of treatment advances and options for metastatic prostate cancer. Watch the video
Patients with Stage 4 (IV) metastatic prostate cancer often need a whole-body approach to treatment, using "systemic" therapies that travel throughout the body to target cancer that has spread. These therapies may be combined into "doublet" (two concurrent treatments) or "triplet" therapies.While Stage 3 (III) prostate cancer has also advanced to spread outside of the prostate, it's still in the surrounding tissue and bone, and is often addressed with localized treatment options similar to those used in early-stage disease.What's the best treatment for advanced prostate cancer?Multiple types of advanced prostate cancer therapies exist, with therapies that address pain caused by metastasis, strengthen the bones, slow the spread of disease, and improve quality of life. Treatment decisions ultimately come down to your specific diagnosis, personal values, and goals, so it's important to learn as much as you can, including which questions to ask your doctor about your treatment options.
Treatment options for advanced prostate cancer A systemic therapy is any kind of treatment that targets or travels through the entire body. Some work by removing the hormones that fuel tumor growth, others activate your body's natural defences, or use a range of approaches to attack the cancer directly.Learn more about each of the types of treatment below, or take a look at a long list of pharmaceuticals that are prescribed for prostate cancer. List of Prostate Cancer Drugs Hormone therapy Hormone therapy is also called androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), hormone deprivation therapy, or hormone suppression therapy. Hormone therapy stops or slows the body’s ability to make testosterone, aiming to stop tumor growth and/or shrink the tumor. Immunotherapy Immunotherapy treats the whole body by activating the immune system to recognize and destroy prostate cancer cells. It uses materials to improve, target, or restore immune function. Different types of immunotherapies include vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and others. Targeted therapy Targeted therapy uses drugs that are designed to find and attack cancer cells. They shut down specific proteins in cancer cells that help the cells divide, grow, and spread. Different types of targeted therapies include PARP inhibitors, PSMA targeted therapy, radioligand therapy, and others. Chemotherapy Chemotherapy is used to kill cancer cells throughout the body. They are given through the veins or orally, depending on the drug. Because chemotherapy also attacks other cells in the body, it may cause significant side effects. Radiopharmaceuticals Radiopharmaceuticals are medications that deliver radiation, typically given through a vein to men with metastatic prostate cancer that has spread widely to the bone. Clinical trials Clinical trials are research studies investigating experimental treatment to see if it is safe to use and effective in fighting a disease. They can be an important option for advanced prostate cancer patients. All treatments used today for prostate cancer are available because of past clinical trials.
Play Video Close Want help finding the best treatment for you? Use our Interactive Decision Support Tool, developed in partnership with Clinical Care Options! This tool provides you with expert guidance on treatment options for advanced prostate cancer, based on characteristics you enter. Discover what’s available so you can work with your care team to make the right choices together. Patient Interactive Treatment Tool
Play Video Close Treatment updates for advanced prostate cancer Dr. Alicia Morgans provides an overview of treatment advances and options for metastatic prostate cancer. Watch the video
