“A new drug for advanced prostate cancer has shown promise in early trials experts have said, with the medication shrinking tumours in some patients…

The researchers found the majority of patients – 88% – experienced only very mild side-effects.

They then looked at the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in the men’s blood – a biomarker whereby higher levels can be a sign of prostate conditions.

De Bono noted the trial started at low doses, with the dose increasing in stages. When the team looked at data for 17 men given the highest dose, they found that for 14 (82%) their PSA level fell by at least half after treatment, nine (53%) saw their PSA level fall by at least 90%, and five (29%) experienced a fall of at least 99%.

De Bono described the results as unprecedented for a disease previously thought to be ‘immune-cold’ – in other words resistant to immunotherapy.

The team added that, of 11 patients given the highest dose and whose tumours were measurable, five showed tumour shrinkage. In one case, involving a 63-year-old man whose cancer had spread to his liver, the team found 14 cancerous liver lesions ‘completely resolved’ after six cycles of treatment.”

From The Guardian.