Patients first diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer will now get immediate access to a drug which studies have shown can extend their life by more than a year compared to current options, NHS England has announced.
Following a review of evidence from two trials published late last year, specialists will now be able to prescribe the chemotherapy drug docetaxel as soon as someone is diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer. Under previous guidelines, patients had to wait until it was clear that existing, hormone-based treatments had stopped having an effect. The two randomised control trials published in 2015 found that, compared with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone, docetaxel combined with ADT improved overall survival by up to 15 months.
NHS England’s director of specialised services, Dr Jonathan Fielden, said: “Rigorous new evidence shows that this drug brings significant benefits for patients with advanced prostate cancer. So working closely with patient groups and cancer specialists, NHS England is now pleased to be fast-tracking its wider availability. NHS cancer outcomes are now better than ever, and we’re on track for very substantial further patient gains over the next five years.”
Angela Culhane, chief executive at Prostate Cancer UK said: “This announcement is great news for men who are newly diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer that has spread. This fast-track response to new evidence indicates what can be achieved when there is the will in the system. It must set a precedent for other treatments that demonstrate clear clinical benefit when used in different ways.
“It is now critical that specialists are made aware that this use of docetaxel treatment is available so that no man ever misses out. Earlier docetaxel must become the standard for men who can benefit from it and we will continue applying pressure until we are sure this is the case.”
