Leading experts challenge physicians to re-think treatment options.
A survey of more than 330 oncologists and urologists from around the world reveals a lack of awareness and understanding of the clinical benefits of Combined Androgen Blockade (CAB) therapy for the management of advanced prostate cancer.1 Following a review of the survey findings, an international panel of experts calls for physicians to re-consider the benefits of CAB as a treatment option, proven effective in extending survival and delaying disease progression in men with advanced prostate cancer.2,3,4,5
Out of fashion, but effective
The survey explored the use and perceptions of CAB for the treatment of men with advanced prostate cancer. The majority of respondents (71%) believes that CAB should be used more often and in more patients, yet when exploring factors that could encourage increased CAB usage, 66% cited the need for clinical evidence*.1 The panel attributes this misconception regarding the need for evidence to CAB’s low profile amongst physicians.
Mr David Gillatt, a panel member and Consultant Urologist at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK commented that: “In this era of targeted therapies and evolving innovations in healthcare and specifically prostate cancer, it is the new drugs that dominate proceedings at medical meetings and secure interest. We must not allow the benefits of established and proven treatments, such as CAB, to be overlooked to the detriment of patient care.”
Non-CAB prescribers: perception of clinical evidence
The survey revealed that 79% of non-CAB prescribers attribute the need for more clinical evidence demonstrating the benefits of CAB as a reason for not utilising the treatment option .1 Speaking on behalf of the panel, Professor of Surgery at the Sunnybrook Health Services Centre, University of Toronto, Canada, Professor Laurence Klotz addressed the belief that there is a lack of clinical evidence noting that: “Such misconceptions are a barrier to the use of combined hormonal therapy. The evidence suggests that there may be significant benefits from the use of combination therapy. The addition of CASODEX (bicalutamide) 50mg to an LHRH agonist in patients at high risk for prostate cancer mortality could reduce the rate of prostate cancer death by 20% compared to castration therapy alone.”
Dr Heather Payne, a member of the expert panel and Consultant in Clinical Oncology, Meyerstein Institute of Oncology, University College Hospital, London, UK added that: “The evidence for CAB exists but we need to challenge physicians to re-consider this evidence to ensure that patients with advanced prostate cancer have access to this treatment which offers the greatest hope for extending survival.”
Influence of current clinical guidelines
The survey also explored physicians’ views on current clinical guidelines for the management of advanced prostate cancer with CAB, and showed that more than half of the respondents believe that the guidelines are too numerous, lack clarity or are outdated (52%).1
Dr David Castro-Diaz, a panel member and Consultant Urologist, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Spain, noted that: “Guidelines regarding hormonal therapy remain general to allow a wide interpretation of the recommendations but also need to provide increased clarity regarding the present indications of combination therapy to physicians.”
Putting evidence into practice
“The survey findings clearly indicate the need for physicians to re-assess the benefits of combination therapy. We need to shift some of the current perceptions and subsequent treatment practices that are employed around the world and ensure that we are providing optimum patient care for men with advanced prostate cancer” concluded Dr Heather Payne.
source: http://www.prostateline.com/prostatelinehcp/6096_24323_0_0_0.aspx
A survey of more than 330 oncologists and urologists from around the world reveals a lack of awareness and understanding of the clinical benefits of Combined Androgen Blockade (CAB) therapy for the management of advanced prostate cancer.1 Following a review of the survey findings, an international panel of experts calls for physicians to re-consider the benefits of CAB as a treatment option, proven effective in extending survival and delaying disease progression in men with advanced prostate cancer.2,3,4,5
Out of fashion, but effective
The survey explored the use and perceptions of CAB for the treatment of men with advanced prostate cancer. The majority of respondents (71%) believes that CAB should be used more often and in more patients, yet when exploring factors that could encourage increased CAB usage, 66% cited the need for clinical evidence*.1 The panel attributes this misconception regarding the need for evidence to CAB’s low profile amongst physicians.
Mr David Gillatt, a panel member and Consultant Urologist at Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK commented that: “In this era of targeted therapies and evolving innovations in healthcare and specifically prostate cancer, it is the new drugs that dominate proceedings at medical meetings and secure interest. We must not allow the benefits of established and proven treatments, such as CAB, to be overlooked to the detriment of patient care.”
Non-CAB prescribers: perception of clinical evidence
The survey revealed that 79% of non-CAB prescribers attribute the need for more clinical evidence demonstrating the benefits of CAB as a reason for not utilising the treatment option .1 Speaking on behalf of the panel, Professor of Surgery at the Sunnybrook Health Services Centre, University of Toronto, Canada, Professor Laurence Klotz addressed the belief that there is a lack of clinical evidence noting that: “Such misconceptions are a barrier to the use of combined hormonal therapy. The evidence suggests that there may be significant benefits from the use of combination therapy. The addition of CASODEX (bicalutamide) 50mg to an LHRH agonist in patients at high risk for prostate cancer mortality could reduce the rate of prostate cancer death by 20% compared to castration therapy alone.”
Dr Heather Payne, a member of the expert panel and Consultant in Clinical Oncology, Meyerstein Institute of Oncology, University College Hospital, London, UK added that: “The evidence for CAB exists but we need to challenge physicians to re-consider this evidence to ensure that patients with advanced prostate cancer have access to this treatment which offers the greatest hope for extending survival.”
Influence of current clinical guidelines
The survey also explored physicians’ views on current clinical guidelines for the management of advanced prostate cancer with CAB, and showed that more than half of the respondents believe that the guidelines are too numerous, lack clarity or are outdated (52%).1
Dr David Castro-Diaz, a panel member and Consultant Urologist, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Spain, noted that: “Guidelines regarding hormonal therapy remain general to allow a wide interpretation of the recommendations but also need to provide increased clarity regarding the present indications of combination therapy to physicians.”
Putting evidence into practice
“The survey findings clearly indicate the need for physicians to re-assess the benefits of combination therapy. We need to shift some of the current perceptions and subsequent treatment practices that are employed around the world and ensure that we are providing optimum patient care for men with advanced prostate cancer” concluded Dr Heather Payne.
source: http://www.prostateline.com/prostatelinehcp/6096_24323_0_0_0.aspx
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