Targeted prostate cancer therapy involves the use of treatments that specifically target molecular pathways and markers associated with prostate cancer cells, aiming to minimize damage to normal tissues.
This approach is used in advanced stages of the disease, such as metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).
One of the primary targets in prostate cancer is the
androgen receptor (AR).
AR antagonists and inhibitors of androgen synthesis, such as enzalutamide and abiraterone, are used to disrupt AR signaling, which is crucial for prostate cancer cell survival and proliferation.
Prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) is expressed in prostate cancer cells and is a targeted therapy for radioligand such as lutetium-177-PSMA-617 delivering radiation to cancer cells and additional small molecule targeted immunotherapy, directed nanoparticles,and a targeted alpha therapy such as radium-223 for bone metastases.
Targeted therapies for prostate cancer aim to improve treatment efficacy and reduce side effects by focusing on specific molecular characteristics of the cancer cells.