Cabazitaxel (Jevtana) is usually used as a second line chemotherapy for men with advanced prostate cancer. Like all the other approved treatments for prostate cancer its ability to control the disease is limited, as resistance to the treatment does develop.
We have seen that in certain circumstances a drug that has stopped working, or developed resistance can become effective when used again. This practice, using a drug after its failure, is referred to as retreatment.
At the last Association of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO) annual meeting there was an abstract that showed that retreatment with cabazitaxel (cab) was possible.
The researchers demonstrated that cab, when used in combination with a newer hormonal therapy and docetaxel, in men who are metastatic, castration-resistant and heavily pretreated, had encouraging activity and acceptable toxicity.
According to the study authors, “Cabazitaxel re-challenge might be an option in heavily treated patients still fit to receive chemotherapy.”
If you have burned through all these treatments, you should discuss with your doctors the feasibility of your taking a second round of cabazitaxel as your next treatment step.
Thibault C, et al. Abstract 5033. Presented at: ASCO Annual Meeting: June 2-6, 2017; Chicago.
Disclosures: Thibault reports that she serves as a consultant or adviser for Novartis and Sanofi and that she receives travel, accommodations, and expenses from Novartis and Sanofi.
Joel T. Nowak, MA, MSW wrote this Post. Joel is the CEO/Executive Director of Cancer ABCs. He is a Cancer Thriver diagnosed with 5 primary cancers - Thyroid, Metastatic Prostate, Renal, Melanoma and a rare cancer, Appendiceal Cancer.
