Dr. Gartrell on Tolerability of SM-88 in Prostate Cancer

Benjamin A. Gartrell, MD, assistant professor of urology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, medical oncologist, Montefiore Medical Center, discusses the tolerability of SM-88 in the treatment of patients with prostate cancer.

In a phase II study presented at the 2019 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium, the toxicity profile of SM-88 was excellent, Gartrell says. Researchers believe that men with prostate cancer would like to avoid androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for as long as possible. When patients receive ADT, their testosterone levels are lowered, resulting in adverse events (AEs) like hot flashes, sexual side effects, weight gain, and loss of muscle and bone. Additionally, there is a decrease in quality of life (QoL), notes Gartrell.

SM-88 is a nonhormonal therapy and is not associated with any of these AEs. In this small, prospective study, investigators did not see any typical hormone-associated AEs or deterioration of QoL. SM-88 is a novel, oral medication that targets cancer metabolism; thus, researchers are hopeful this drug will effectively hit cancer cells and avoid normal cells.