lancastria.net

The chemotherapy drug Jevtana (cabazitaxel) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat advanced prostate cancer that worsens despite use of a standard drug therapy, docetaxel.

In some cases of prostate cancer, the male hormone testosterone spurs tumor growth. To block production of this hormone, doctors may prescribe drugs, surgery or other hormones. Despite testosterone suppression, some prostate cancers continue to worsen, prompting the need for different treatments such as the newly approved drug.

Prostate cancer

Jevtana, approved to be used in combination with the steroid prednisone, was given an expedited six-month review, the FDA said in a news release. The drug was evaluated in a single study involving 755 men. Average survival for those who received a drug regimen that included Jevtana was 15.1 months, compared with 12.7 months among those who received a different regimen, the agency said.

Prostate cancer has many treatments, but this chemotherapy drug will extend the survival rate of men who are no longer being helped by other treatments. The Tropic Study found that the most common adverse reactions were neutropenia, anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, constipation, asthenia, abdominal pain, hematuria, back pain, anorexia, peripheral neuropathy, pyrexia, dyspnea, dysguesia, cough, arthralgia, and alopecia. The side effect while taking Jevtana alone are decreased levels of infection-fighting white blood cells, lower white blood cell count and blood platelets, anemia, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, constipation, weakness and kidney failure.

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