Julie N. Graff, MD

This review article discusses the concepts of a tumor microenvironment and a gut microbiome and their effects on responses to checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs). It also reviews recent research investigating these 3 topics, and how it can be applied to using CPIs in prostate cancer.

This article reviews the mechanism of action between GnRH agonists and antagonists and the studies that led to the approval of degarelix, as well as its potential risks and benefits, particularly when it comes to cardiovascular health.

Six therapies have demonstrated improved survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, yet there is insufficient data regarding combination and sequencing of these agents, and predicting response or resistance to them. Prostate cancer patients, researchers, and clinicians alike await the results of key phase III studies in 2017 that could further impact how prostate cancer is managed.

Here we review current therapies for nonmetastatic CRPC and discuss the recently completed and ongoing trials for this emerging disease state.

Here we discuss the efficacy and safety of zoledronic acid, denosumab, enzalutamide, abiraterone, and radium-223 and review the available data regarding the cost of denosumab compared with that of zoledronic acid.

We need to understand each patient’s cancer and its microenvironment well enough to develop targeted treatments that will kill the tumor the first time-for if we let it escape, 70 years of prostate cancer research teaches us that our job will only get harder.