New Drug Combo Slashes Prostate Cancer Death Risk by 40%

BREAKING: A groundbreaking drug combination has just been confirmed to reduce the risk of death in men with advanced prostate cancer by over 40%. This urgent development, announced on October 19, 2025, at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress (ESMO) in Berlin, offers new hope for thousands of patients facing recurrent cancer after surgery or radiation.

The clinical trial, involving over 1,000 patients across 17 countries, showed that adding the drug enzalutamide to standard hormone therapy significantly improved survival rates. Patients diagnosed with high-risk biochemically recurrent prostate cancer, whose cancer had returned aggressively, saw a 40.3% decrease in mortality risk when treated with this combination therapy compared to those receiving hormone therapy alone.

Dr. Stephen Freedland, co-principal investigator and director at Cedars-Sinai Cancer, stated, “Hormone therapy has not improved survival for decades. These findings are a real game changer.” The trial results, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, underscore the urgent need for effective treatment options for patients whose cancer is likely to spread.

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were monitored in participants, with rapid increases indicating a higher chance of cancer recurrence. “We know these patients are at high risk of developing metastatic disease and dying unless we offer a meaningful treatment option,” Dr. Freedland emphasized. His team’s findings could redefine treatment protocols and improve outcomes for patients globally.

Patients were randomly assigned to receive either standard hormone therapy, enzalutamide, or the combination of both. After eight years, those receiving the combination therapy showed a remarkable improvement in survival, a development that is likely to influence treatment guidelines by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Dr. Robert Figlin, interim director at Cedars-Sinai Cancer, remarked, “This clinical trial exemplifies the translational work by our physician-scientists, promising improved treatment and outcomes for patients everywhere.”

The study was sponsored by Pfizer Inc. and Astellas Pharma Inc., the co-developers of enzalutamide, which is already approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Hyung Kim, chair of the Department of Urology at Cedars-Sinai, noted, “These important findings identify a treatment that prolongs survival in men with aggressive prostate cancer.”

This significant breakthrough is critical for patients worldwide, as it not only offers a new treatment avenue but also enhances the quality of life for those battling advanced prostate cancer. As medical professionals and researchers continue to advocate for innovative therapies, the hope for prolonged survival and better outcomes has never been more tangible.

Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story and the implications it holds for prostate cancer treatment and patient care.