What is cabazitaxel
(Jetvana ®)?
Cabazitaxel is a new type of chemotherapy treatment for men with
prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (advanced prostate cancer) and
has stopped responding to hormone therapy and the chemotherapy
medicine docetaxel (Taxotere®). It is used to help control symptoms
and not to cure prostate cancer.
For more information on cabazitaxel, speak to your specialist team
or call our confidential helpline.
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How does cabazitaxel
treat prostate cancer?
Cabazitaxel is a chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapy uses
anti-cancer (cytotoxic) medicines to kill cancer cells. It is used
to help control symptoms and not to cure prostate cancer.
Cabazitaxel is given through a drip. This involves running a liquid
containing the medicine through a small tube (cannula) into a vein
in your arm.
In a recent clinical trial, men who were given
cabazitaxel lived about two and a half months longer than men who
were given a different type of chemotherapy.
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Who can have cabazitaxel?
Cabazitaxel is suitable for men whose prostate cancer has spread
to other parts of the body (advanced prostate cancer) and has
stopped responding to hormone therapy and the chemotherapy medicine
docetaxel (Taxotere®).
Cabazitaxel is licensed for use in the UK, but it is not yet widely
available on the NHS. This is because the National Institute
for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) have
recently decided not to fund this medicine. You can read our
comment on this decision on our research
news page.
If your doctor tells you that cabazitaxel is suitable for you and
you decide you want to have it, but your local healthcare provider
does not provide it free on the NHS, you may still be able to get
treatment. You can read our page Getting new medicines for more
information on how to get access to medicines.
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What
is enzalutamide®?
Enzalutamide is a new type of hormone therapy for men whose
prostate cancer has spread to other parts of the body (advanced prostate cancer) and
has stopped responding to other hormone therapy and chemotherapy
treatments. You may also have heard it called MDV3100.
Enzalutamide is a very new medicine and has not yet been
licensed for use. Unfortunately, it is no longer available
through a named patient programme, and is not available in the
UK.
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How does enzalutamide treat
prostate cancer?
Enzalutamide is taken as a tablet and works by stopping the
hormone testosterone from reaching the prostate cancer cells.
Without testosterone, the cancer cells are not able to grow,
wherever they are in the body.
In a recent clinical trial, men who received
enzalutamide lived for about four months longer than those who were
given a placebo.
For more information on enzalutamide, speak to your doctor or
nurse, or call our Specialist Nurses.
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