Targeted and Immunotherapeutic Strategies for Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Emerging Strategies, Challenges, and Future Directions

Xiaoting Pan¹Yuchu Xiang²Zitong Fang²Junjun Le³Yu Jian³Shulian Chen³Daobing Li³Guobiao Liang³Bo Wang^4*

• ¹Fudan University, Shanghai, China
• ²Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
• ³Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
• ⁴Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Freiburg University Medical Center, Freiburg, Germany

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) represents an advanced stage of prostate cancer progression. Although the combination of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with chemotherapy and first generation hormone therapy is initially effective, patients ultimately develop resistance. In recent years, breakthroughs in targeted therapies and immunotherapies, along with the emergence of novel combination strategies, have provided new hope for patients with CRPC. This article systematically reviews the latest advancements in targeted and immunotherapeutic approaches for CRPC, integrating clinical data and mechanistic studies to analyze the efficacy and challenges of novel agents (e.g., second-generation AR inhibitors, PARP inhibitors, PSMA-targeted therapies) and combination regimens. It also provides insights for exploring future optimization directions.