Yale Comprehensive Cancer Center Archives

Theranostics & Radiopharmaceutical Trials

Posted by Daniel P. Petrylak, MD | Jul 2020

Daniel P. Petrylak, MD, Director of Genitourinary Oncology, Professor of Medicine and Urology, Co-Leader of Cancer Signaling Networks, and Co-Director of the Signal Transduction Program at Yale University Cancer Center, reviews several studies in which radium-223 is used both alone and in combination with other treatments for prostate cancer. Since radium-223 is an alpha particle, it requires fewer hits to damage DNA, offering an advantage over beta particles. Dr. Petrylak further explains the benefits of theranostics which deliver isotopes directly to the tumor site. He concludes that radium-223 is effective in treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), but cautions that until potential toxicity levels are better understood, combining radium-223 with either abiraterone or prednisone is not advised.

Chemotherapy Trials

Posted by Daniel P. Petrylak, MD | Jun 2020

Daniel P. Petrylak, MD, Director of Genitourinary Oncology, Professor of Medicine and Urology, Co-Leader of Cancer Signaling Networks, and Co-Director of the Signal Transduction Program at Yale University Cancer Center in New Haven, Connecticut, discusses data from recent chemotherapy trials for castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Dr. Petrylak specifically examines trials evaluating drug combinations as treatment for CRPC patients. Additionally, he reviews the effectiveness of PARP inhibitors in patients with DNA repair mutations. Finally, he notes the apparent superiority of cabazitaxel to NG AA treatment after progression on docetaxel.

29MHz High Resolution Micro-Ultrasound: Improving Real-Time Targeting of Prostate Biopsies

Posted by Neal D. Shore, MD | Jun 2020

Neal D. Shore, MD, FACS, Medical Director for the Carolina Urologic Research Center and a urologist at the Atlantic Urology Clinics in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, discusses the use of a 29MHz micro-ultrasound (MUS) in targeting suspicious regions during prostate biopsy. He explains how the MUS can expedite time to diagnosis through improved real-time visualization, notes the short 15-case learning curve of the device, and discusses studies demonstrating improved negative predictive value and sensitivity of MUS compared to MRI.

Phase 1 Trial of ARV-110 in Patients with mCRPC

Posted by Daniel P. Petrylak, MD | Jun 2020

Daniel P. Petrylak, MD, Director of Genitourinary Oncology, Professor of Medicine and Urology, Co-Leader of Cancer Signaling Networks, and Co-Director of the Signal Transduction Program at Yale University Cancer Center, discusses promising new developments coming out of a trial that interferes with the androgen receptor and degrades it. Phase 1 of this trial looks at ARV-110 in patients with mCRPC and Dr. Petrylak highlights why the study’s recent findings are so exciting. He goes into detail the study methodology and how ARV-110 works in comparison to traditional treatments. Dr. Petrylak also explains why the findings are so promising and what the next steps are for the study.

Anti-Androgen Trials

Posted by Daniel P. Petrylak, MD | Jun 2020

Daniel P. Petrylak, MD, Director of Genitourinary Oncology, Professor of Medicine and Urology, Co-Leader of Cancer Signaling Networks, and Co-Director of the Signal Transduction Program at Yale University Cancer Center, gives an overview of the most important, recent anti-androgen trials, as well as those that are currently still underway. He highlights how the trials were conducted, what the researchers found, and what he feels is still missing from the research. Dr. Petrylak compares and contrasts the different studies and draws conclusions about each. He also goes over a couple of trials with novel anti-androgens with unique mechanisms of action, which are currently in phase 1, that are showing promise.