A combination therapy including the drug apalutamide has demonstrated improved outcomes for high-risk prostate cancer patients in a phase 3 trial presented at a major cancer conference.
Researchers have announced promising results from a major clinical trial testing a new approach to treating high-risk localised prostate cancer. The PROTEUS trial, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference, shows that combining hormone therapy with the drug apalutamide produces better outcomes than standard treatment alone.
The study compared two treatment approaches for men with high-risk prostate cancer that hasn’t spread beyond the prostate gland. One group received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) – a hormone treatment that blocks testosterone – alongside apalutamide. The other group got ADT plus a placebo.
What the Results Show
The combination treatment led to more patients achieving either a pathological complete response or minimal residual disease. In cancer terms, this means the treatment either eliminated all detectable cancer cells or reduced them to barely detectable levels.
Perhaps more markedly for patients, the apalutamide combination also improved five-year metastasis-free survival rates. This measures how many patients remain free from cancer spreading to other parts of their body five years after treatment.
Prostate cancer affects around 52,000 men in the UK each year, making it the most common cancer in men. High-risk localised prostate cancer represents cases where the disease is aggressive but hasn’t yet spread beyond the prostate itself.
Understanding the Treatment
Androgen deprivation therapy works by blocking testosterone, which fuels prostate cancer growth. It’s already a standard treatment for various stages of prostate cancer. Apalutamide is a newer drug that blocks androgen receptors – the cellular “locks” that testosterone uses to enter cancer cells.
The PROTEUS trial represents a phase 3 study, the final stage of clinical testing before treatments can be considered for regulatory approval. These large-scale trials involve hundreds or thousands of patients and compare new treatments directly against current standard care.
But patients shouldn’t expect immediate changes to their treatment options. New cancer treatments typically take months or years to work through regulatory approval processes after positive trial results.
Source: @NEJM
Key Takeaways
- Combination therapy with ADT plus apalutamide showed better outcomes than ADT alone in high-risk localised prostate cancer
- More patients achieved complete response or minimal disease with the combination treatment
- Five-year metastasis-free survival rates improved with the apalutamide combination
What This Means for Kent Residents
Kent men diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer should discuss these trial results with their oncology teams at local NHS trusts including East Kent Hospitals and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. While this treatment isn’t yet available as standard care, patients may be able to access apalutamide through clinical trials or special access programmes. Anyone concerned about prostate cancer symptoms should contact their GP or call NHS 111 for guidance on when to seek medical advice.
New Prostate Cancer Treatment Shows Promise in Major Clinical Trial Quiz
5 questions