Management of Advanced Prostate Cancer in Clinical Practice: Real-World Answers to Challenging Dilemmas

Abstract

Advanced prostate cancer is a continuum of states distinguished by the presence or absence of metastasis and sensitivity or resistance to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Therapeutic options for this disease continue to rapidly evolve, making it a challenge to apply results of clinical trial data to daily patient management. One question relevant to providers is whether molecular biomarkers predictive of response or resistance to therapies are available to guide clinical treatment decisions. Other salient topics include the timing of therapy initiation in patients with biochemical recurrence, treatment approach in low-volume versus high-volume metastatic castrate-sensitive prostate cancer, types of agents available beyond ADT, and timing of their use in men with nonmetastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer as well as whether sequencing of therapies in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer matters. Additionally, familiarity with emerging treatment strategies is important. This review addresses the gray areas and challenging questions in advanced prostate cancer management that frequently arise in clinical practice.