Cancer Research Centre News
STAMPEDE Trial: Early Chemo treatment improves survival rates for men with prostate cancer
Two papers published on 16th December 2015 show that having early chemotherapy improves survival for men with prostate cancer. The papers report the results from the STAMPEDE trial and a meta-analysis. See the film exploring the results
Both papers looked at the use of a chemotherapy drug called docetaxel. Docetaxel is already used for men with prostate cancer once hormone therapy has stopped working. In STAMPEDE and the meta-analysis, the researchers looked at using it earlier, when men are starting long-term hormone therapy. Both studies found that adding docetaxel improved survival for these men.
Both studies also looked at whether the drug zoledronic acid improves survival. Zoledronic acid is used to reduce the risk of bone problems in men whose cancer has spread to their bones, and whose hormone therapy has stopped working. The new studies looked at using it earlier, when men are starting long-term hormone therapy. Both studies found that adding zoledronic acid did not improve survival for these men.
We have produced a short (15-minute) film aimed at patients and the public that explores these results