Enzalutamide (Xtandi) for the treatment of advancing prostate cancer

Enzalutamide is taken once daily in the form of soft capsules or tablets at a dose of 160 mg. This is the equivalent of four soft capsules or coated tablets of 40 mg each, or two coated tablets of 80 mg.

If there are severe side effects, the treatment can be interrupted temporarily.

Enzalutamide for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer 

Men with metastatic prostate cancer that no longer responds to conventional hormone blockers have several treatment options, depending on the stage of the disease and earlier treatments.

• Even after hormone blockers stop working, many men have no or only mild symptoms for a while. During this phase, hormone blocker treatment can be continued as before or used together with non-steroidal anti-androgens (like flutamide or bicalutamide) or abiraterone.
• More severe symptoms can be relieved with docetaxel chemotherapy. If the prostate cancer keeps growing during or after this treatment, patients usually receive supportive care adjusted to their individual needs and symptoms. Supportive care aims to relieve symptoms as much as possible and improve quality of life. This can include pain relief treatment, sometimes with very strong painkillers.
  
  

Enzalutamide for the treatment of non-metastatic prostate cancer

Watchful waiting is an option for men with non-metastatic prostate cancer if conventional hormone blockers are no longer effective enough. Treatment with hormone blockers is continued.

In 2020, the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany) last looked into whether enzalutamide has any advantages or disadvantages compared with the current standard treatments for advancing prostate cancer:

This information summarizes the main results of reviews produced by the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany). The reviews were commissioned by the German Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) as part of the “early benefit assessment of medications.” On the basis of the reviews and the hearings received, the G-BA passed a resolution on the added benefit of enzalutamide (Xtandi).