Treatment protocols for castration-resistant prostate cancer

INTRODUCTION — The following material represents a subset of chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimens that are used for the treatment of patients with prostate cancer. This is not an exhaustive list; it includes regimens that are considered by the authors and editors to be commonly used and important for the care of patients with prostate cancer. Additional regimens may be added over time, particularly as treatment for prostate cancer evolves.

This topic review is intended to provide only a listing of chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimens. It does not address the appropriate context for use of these regimens in the care of patients with prostate cancer. Clinicians should refer to the individual disease-oriented topic reviews that discuss the use of these protocols in appropriate clinical situations:

●(See "Overview of systemic treatment for recurrent or metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer".)

●(See "Chemotherapy in advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer".)

These tables are provided as examples of how to administer these regimens; there may be other acceptable methods. All chemotherapy and immunotherapy regimens must be administered by clinicians who are trained in the use of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The clinician is expected to use his or her independent medical judgment in the context of individual circumstances to make adjustments, as necessary.

REGIMENS

Cabazitaxel and prednisone —  (table 1)

Docetaxel and prednisone —  (table 2)

Pembrolizumab monotherapy for microsatellite-unstable (mismatch repair-deficient) advanced cancer —  (table 3)

ACKNOWLEDGMENT — The UpToDate editorial staff acknowledges Scott M Wirth, PharmD, BCOP, who contributed to an earlier version of this topic review.

We are saddened by the death of Nicholas Vogelzang, MD, who passed away in September 2022. UpToDate gratefully acknowledges Dr. Vogelzang's role as Section Editor on this topic, and his dedicated and longstanding involvement with the UpToDate program.