Emerging therapeutic approaches in the management of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer

Although treatment options for men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) have improved with the recent and anticipated approvals of novel immunotherapeutic, hormonal, chemotherapeutic and bone-targeted agents, clinical benefit with these systemic therapies is transient and survival times remain unacceptably short. Thus, we devote the second section of this two-part review to discussing emerging therapeutic paradigms and research strategies that are entering phase II and III clinical testing for men with metastatic CRPC. We will discuss a range of emerging hormonal, immunomodulatory, antiangiogenic, epigenetic and cell survival pathway inhibitors in current clinical trials, with an emphasis on how these therapies may complement our existing treatment options. Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2011) 14, 206-218; doi:10.1038/pcan.2011.24; published online 17 May 2011