President Biden’s Diagnosis Spotlights Growing Progress in Prostate Cancer Care
The recent news of former President Joe Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis has brought renewed national attention to one of the most common cancers affecting men. While most prostate cancers are caught early and treated successfully, experts caution the disease can still pose serious challenges when it spreads to other parts of the body.
“Men won’t die from primary prostate cancer but unfortunately do from metastatic secondary prostate cancer,” said Conor Lynch, PhD, chair of the Department of Tumor Microenvironment and Metastasis at Moffitt Cancer Center. “If we can block this step, we can save a lot of patients.”
Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support. pic.twitter.com/oSS1vGIiwU
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 19, 2025
Why Prostate Cancer Often Spreads to Bone
One of the most difficult challenges of advanced prostate cancer is its tendency to spread to bones, especially the spine, pelvis and femur. Researchers are still working to understand why tumors are so susceptible to metastasis.
“In bone, metastatic prostate cancer cells often have the ability to speak the language of the bone cells and hijack these normal cells to yield survival and growth factors,” Lynch said.
Roughly 90% of men who die from prostate cancer show evidence of bone metastasis.
Expanding Treatment Options
Years of research have led to significant advances in both early detection and treatment.
When diagnosed early, prostate cancer is highly curable through surgery, radiation, brachytherapy and androgen deprivation therapy, which reduces levels of male hormones that fuel tumor growth.
Conor Lynch, PhD
Even when the cancer spreads to bone, many patients can still benefit from hormone suppression. According to Lynch, metastatic tumors often become “castrate resistant,” adapting to grow even with minimal hormone levels by developing androgen receptor mutations or rewiring internal pathways to manufacture androgens on their own.
“This understanding has led to blockbuster drugs that significantly extend survival for prostate cancer patients,” Lynch said.
Chemotherapy agents like docetaxel remain a key option for many, often combined with hormone therapies. New targeted treatments are also emerging, including high-intensity focused ultrasound and thermal ablation techniques that kill cancer cells through heat or cold.
Targeting Bone Metastases
In recent years, researchers have developed treatments specifically aimed at protecting bone health and attacking tumors that spread there. Drugs like bisphosphonates can strengthen bones and reduce fracture risks, while radium-223, a radioactive agent, delivers targeted radiation to areas of high bone turnover where cancer cells tend to cluster.
“Radium-223 is an alpha emitter, meaning it has a very small depth of penetration, so only cancer cells nearby are killed while healthy tissue is spared,” Lynch said.
Radiation oncologists are also using highly precise techniques, such as proton beam therapy, to target bone lesions while limiting damage to surrounding tissues. These treatments not only destroy cancer cells but also alleviate pain, a significant concern for patients with advanced disease.
Moffitt is set to introduce proton therapy in 2026 at its SPEROS FL campus in Pasco County.
The Next Frontier: Immunotherapy
While immunotherapy has transformed treatment for several types of cancer, its impact on metastatic prostate cancer has so far been limited. That may be changing. Lynch and his team at Moffitt are conducting a phase 1 clinical trial using CAR T-cell therapy, which engineers a patient’s own immune cells to recognize and attack cancer.
“What’s neat about this approach is that the gamma delta T cells we use can recognize phosphoantigens generated by bisphosphonates, which many men with bone metastases are already receiving,” Lynch said. “It’s like a built-in way to ensure the success of the CAR T cells.”
The Importance of Early Detection
Despite treatment advances, Lynch stresses early detection remains the most powerful tool in fighting prostate cancer.
Regular screenings, including PSA tests and digital rectal exams, can catch the disease before it spreads. Lynch encourages men, particularly those with a family history, to overcome hesitation and discuss screening with their doctors.
“Men are often terrible at communicating about sexual health and well-being,” he said. “We need to get better at educating each other. Understanding your family history and acting early can literally save your life.”
