TREATING AGRESSIVE PROSTATE CANCER WITH MAHA HUSSAIN, MD

Episode Summary

For those with advanced metastatic prostate cancer, treatments are limited, but a new phase 3 international trial shows that a genetically targeted therapy could offer new hope for patients with specific gene mutations in their tumors. Northwestern's Maha Hussain, MD, recently presented the results of this landmark trial and shares her insight.

More than one million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer worldwide every year. More than 350,000 will die from the disease. For those with advanced metastatic prostate cancer, treatments are limited. But a new phase 3 international clinical trial shows that a genetic-based therapy could offer new hope for patients with specific gene mutations in their tumors. Maha Hussain, MD, led the trial and presented results at the Presidential Symposium at the 2019 European Society of Medical Oncology in Barcelona.

The trial preselected patients who have genetic alterations that enable cells to repair themselves from damage. Those most commonly known are the BRACA 1, BRACA 2 and ATM genes, but there are several others. Patients were randomly assigned to receive olaparib, which has been used in other cancers (ovarian, breast and pancreatic) with similar alterations – or standard hormone therapy with either abiraterone and prednisone or enzalutamide.

This article was originally published in the Feinberg School of Medicine News Center on June 1, 2019.

Maha Hussain, MD

Genevieve E. Teuton Professor of Medicine
Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Oncology
Deputy Director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University