Research and Markets: Prostate Cancer: New Guidelines and R&D Advancement; An Analysis of Prostate Cancer Therapeutics: Progress, Developments and Forecasts.

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com) has announced the addition of Prostate Cancer: New Guidelines and R&D Advancement to their offering.

In this issue of Cancer Highlights, the field of prostate cancer therapeutics is analyzed. The progress in this field is evaluated and industry related activities are described. Treating prostate cancer is a complicated task. This fact increases the possibilities to find business opportunities, which has already been realized by many who have turned the field of prostate cancer therapeutics into a highly competitive area. Improved methods for diagnosing prostate cancer will enhance the market size and make this area even more interesting in the future.

The year 2004 has been a year of change in terms of treating patients with prostate cancer. New guidelines for the use of androgen suppression and possible benefits from combinations with radiation therapy are described in this report. Subset analysis has demonstrated a survival benefit from radiotherapy only for patients with a biopsy Gleason score higher than 6 after short-term neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. In the April issue of Urology, GlaxoSmithKline published results indicating that long-term treatment with Avodart (dutasteride) resulted in a low incidence of drug-related side effects. The incidence decreased with duration of treatment. Other major drugs that will be of interest in relation to these findings are Zoladex, Proscar and Casodex. These are all included in this progression analysis.

The antiandrogens are becoming an increasingly realistic alternative for future prostate cancer prevention. Strategies and projects related to cancer prevention and especially prostate cancer prevention have been studied. A second major topic is the combination of Aventis' Taxotere in combination with prednisone. This issue presents the latest data on utilizing a combinatory therapeutic strategy of docetaxel and different investigational drugs such as Avastin, Herceptin, GTI-2501, ILX-651, calcitrol, Genasense, Gleevec, SGN-15, Thalomid and Velcade.

In June 2004, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) released new guidelines for treating men with androgen-sensitive prostate cancer. Taxotere injection concentrate in combination with prednisone is moving forth as a treatment for advanced prostate cancer that is no longer responding to hormonal therapy. The ASCO expert panel on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has reached the conclusion that the use of nonsteroidal anti-androgens can be viewed as an alternative to orchiectomy or drug treatment with luteinizing hormone releasing hormone agonists (medical castration). Since no studies have satisfactory demonstrated a survival advantage for starting treatment earlier, the panel feels that no specific recommendations can be issued regarding the question of early vs. deferred ADT.

Researchers involved in the Early Prostate Cancer Program have concluded that hormone therapy initiated immediately following initial therapy reduces the risk of cancer progression. For men with localized or locally advanced prostate cancer treated with initial radiation therapy, immediate hormone therapy also improves progression-free survival.

Report Contents:
Introduction
Androgen Suppression
Prostate Cancer & Prevention
New Standard of Care
Prostate and Obesity
Company profiles
Disclaimer

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