Richard G. Harris, MD, President of LUGPA and UroPartners, discusses the recent incorporation of advanced prostate cancer (APC) clinics amongst LUGPAs within the United States. He goes on to discuss why APC clinics are important, clinical trials for m0, m1, and castrate sensitive prostate cancer, as well as the importance of genetic testing within an APC clinic.
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Brian J. Moran, MD, Medical Director of the Chicago Prostate Cancer Center, discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on treatment for both low- and high-risk prostate cancer patients within their clinic. He explains how the pandemic has caused an increased patient interest in brachytherapy over external beam radiation due to shorter treatment times, that the American Brachytherapy Society advises that low-risk patients receive a delay in treatment so patients with high-risk, unfavorable cancers can be treated first, and how the clinic is implementing telemedicine and social-distancing practices in waiting rooms to reduce COVID-19 exposure.
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Richard G. Harris, MD, President of LUGPA and UroPartners, discusses the changes being implemented at LUGPAs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. He notes how surgery and radiation centers are only treating patients with strong suspicion of high-risk disease, and how patients undergoing current radiation treatment protocols are maintaining continuation of care, with added safety protocols built in. These safety protocols include: hypervigilance for patient and staff safety, including mandatory masks and gloves for all staff; mandatory temperature readings before patients are allowed in the clinic; and evaluating patients prior to clinic admission for possible symptoms of COVID-19. Lastly, Dr. Harris discusses the use of telemedicine in the clinic, and how he hopes regulations that make it easier to see patients remotely will stay in place once the pandemic is behind us.
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Scott M. Weissman, MS, CGC, outlines how the recent boom in genetic testing for prostate cancer has not been met by an equivalent increase in access to genetic counseling. He describes the differences between the shortage of counselors and inefficiencies in access, challenges with insurance coverage for germline testing, and currently available solutions for doctors and patients to get in touch with a counselor.
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Maha H. Hussain, MD, FACP, FASCO, and Celestia S. Higano, MD, discuss the PROfound Trial, which demonstrated increased radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) with the use of olaparib for mCRPC patients displaying the genetic mutations BRCA1, BRCA2, and ATM. Dr. Hussain outlines previous research of genetic mutations in mCRPC that led to this study, the study design and rationale of using two cohorts with specific mutations (BRCA1, BRCA2, and ATM) and non-specific mutations (other genetic alterations), and results that demonstrate promise for gene-targeted therapies in the future.
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