Adjuvant chemotherapy in stage 1 colon cancer: Patient characteristics and survival analysis from the national cancer database.

BACKGROUND: A subset of patients in ACS-NCDB with stage-1 colon cancer received adjuvant chemotherapy (AC), in contrast to national guidelines. This study aimed to define this population and evaluate associations between AC and survival. METHODS: Patients with T1-2N0 colon cancer from 2004 to 2016 were separated into AC and non-AC groups. Adverse pathological features (APF) included T2, poor differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, positive margin, and inadequate lymph nodes (<12). Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate prognostic factors for overall survival (OS). RESULTS: A total of 1745 of 139,857 patients (1.2 %) received AC. Receiving AC was associated with male sex (p = 0.02), uninsured (p < 0.01), low income (p = 0.02), or having ≥2 APFs (p < 0.001). In the total cohort, AC was associated with increased mortality (HR 1.14 [1.04-1.24] P < 0.01). On subset analysis, AC was associated with improved OS for patients with ≥2 APFs (log-rank P=<0.001), and decreased mortality when adjusted for covariates (HR 0.81 [0.69-0.95] P=<0.01). The most significant predictor of mortality was old age (HR 3.78 [3.67, 3.89] p ≤ 0.01), followed by higher Charlson Comorbidity Index (HR 1.73 [1.69, 1.76] (p ≤ 0.01), and higher APF score (HR 1.46 [1.42, 15.2] p ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSION: AC was associated with decreased survival in the total cohort of stage 1 colon cancer patients, but was associated with improved survival for patients with multiple APFs.

Precision medicine for prostate cancer: An international perspective.

Greater personalization of cancer medicine continues to shape therapy development and patient selection accordingly. The treatment of prostate cancer has evolved considerably since the discovery of androgen deprivation therapy. The comprehensive profiling of the prostate cancer genome has mapped the targetable molecular landscape of the disease and identified opportunities for the implementation of novel and combination therapies. In this review, we provide an overview of the molecular biology of prostate cancer and tools developed to aid prognostication and prediction of therapy benefit. Modern treatment of advanced prostate cancer is reviewed as a paradigm of increasing precision-informed approach to patient care, and must be considered on a global scale with respect to the state of science and care delivery.

Validation of Prognostic and Predictive Models for Therapeutic Response in Patients Treated with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 Versus Cabazitaxel for Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer (TheraP): A Post Hoc Analysis from a Randomised, Open-label, Phase 2 Trial.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic models have been developed using data from a multicentre noncomparative study to forecast the likelihood of a 50% reduction in prostate-specific antigen (PSA50), longer prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression-free survival (PFS), and longer overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer receiving [177Lu]Lu-PSMA radioligand therapy. The predictive utility of the models to identify patients likely to benefit most from [177Lu]Lu-PSMA compared with standard chemotherapy has not been established. OBJECTIVE: To determine the predictive value of the models using data from the randomised, open-label, phase 2, TheraP trial (primary objective) and to evaluate the clinical net benefit of the PSA50 model (secondary objective). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: All 200 patients were randomised in the TheraP trial to receive [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 (n = 99) or cabazitaxel (n = 101) between February 2018 and September 2019. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Predictive performance was investigated by testing whether the association between the modelled outcome classifications (favourable vs unfavourable outcome) was different for patients randomised to [177Lu]Lu-PSMA versus cabazitaxel. The clinical benefit of the PSA50 model was evaluated using a decision curve analysis. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The probability of PSA50 in patients classified as having a favourable outcome was greater in the [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 group than in the cabazitaxel group (odds ratio 6.36 [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.69-30.80] vs 0.96 [95% CI 0.32-3.05]; p = 0.038 for treatment-by-model interaction). The PSA50 rate in patients with a favourable outcome for [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 versus cabazitaxel was 62/88 (70%) versus 31/85 (36%). The decision curve analysis indicated that the use of the PSA50 model had a clinical net benefit when the probability of a PSA response was ≥30%. The predictive performance of the models for PSA PFS and OS was not established (treatment-by-model interaction: p = 0.36 and p = 0.41, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A previously developed outcome classification model for PSA50 was demonstrated to be both predictive and prognostic for the outcome after [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 versus cabazitaxel, while the PSA PFS and OS models had purely prognostic value. The models may aid clinicians in defining strategies for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who failed first-line chemotherapy and are eligible for [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 and cabazitaxel. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this report, we validated previously developed statistical models that can predict a response to Lu-PSMA radioligand therapy in patients with advanced prostate cancer. We found that the statistical models can predict patient survival, and aid in determining whether Lu-PSMA therapy or cabazitaxel yields a higher probability to achieve a serum prostate-specific antigen response.

Protective effect of Pterospermum rubiginosum bark extract on bone mineral density and bone remodelling in estrogen deficient ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

Osteoporosis is a common metabolic old age disorder characterised by low bone mass content (BMC) and mineral density (BMD) with micro-architectural deterioration of the extracellular matrix, further increasing bone fragility risk. Several traditional remedies, including plant extracts and herbal formulations, are used worldwide by local healers to improve the overall bone health and metabolism as an excellent osteoregenerative agent. Pteropsermum rubiginosum is an underexplored medicinal plant used by tribal peoples of Western Ghats, India, to treat bone fractures and associated inflammation. The proposed study evaluates the elemental profiling and phytochemical characterisation of P. rubiginosum methanolic bark extract (PRME), along with detailed In vitro and In vivo biological investigation in MG-63 cells and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. AAS and ICP-MS analysis showed the presence of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium and exceptional levels of strontium, chromium, and zinc in PRME. The NMR characterisation revealed the presence of vanillic acid, Ergost-4-ene-3-one and catechin. The molecular docking studies revealed the target pockets of isolated compounds and various marker proteins in the bone remodelling cycle. In vitro studies showed a significant hike in ALP and calcium content, along with upregulated mRNA expression of the ALP and COL1, which confirmed the osteoinductive activity of PRME in human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells. The in vivo evaluation in ovariectomised (OVX) rats showed remarkable recovery in ALP, collagen and osteocalcin protein after 3 months of PRME treatment. DEXA scanning reports in OVX rats supported the above in vitro and in vivo results, significantly enhancing the BMD and BMC. The results suggest that PRME can induce osteogenic activity and enhance bone formation with an excellent osteoprotective effect against bone loss in OVX animals due to estrogen deficiency. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-024-03942-7.

Low rate of severe-end-stage kidney disease after SABR for localised primary kidney cancer.

BACKGROUND: Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) is an emerging treatment for patients with primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, its impact on renal function is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate incidence and clinical factors predictive of severe to end-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) after SABR for RCC. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was a Single institutional retrospective analysis of patients with diagnosed primary RCC receiving SABR between 2012-2020. Adult patients with no metastatic disease, baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of ≥ 30 ml/min/1.73 m2, and at least one post-SABR eGFR at six months or later were included in this analysis. Patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma were excluded. Primary outcome was freedom from severe to end-stage CKD, determined using the Kaplan-Meier estimator. The impact of baseline CKD, age, hypertension, diabetes, tumor size and fractionation schedule were assessed by Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS: Seventy-eight consecutive patients were included, with median age of 77.8 years (IQR 70-83), tumor size of 4.5 cm (IQR 3.9-5.8) and follow-up of 42.2 months (IQR 23-60). Baseline median eGFR was 58 mls/min; 55% (n = 43) of patients had baseline CKD stage 3 and the remainder stage 1-2. By last follow-up, 1/35 (2.8%) of baseline CKD 1-2, 7/27 (25.9%) CKD 3a and 11/16 (68.8%) CKD 3b had developed CKD stage 4-5. The estimated probability of freedom from CKD stage 4-5 at 1 and 5 years was 89.6% (CI 83.0-97.6) and 65% (CI 51.4-81.7) respectively. On univariable analysis, worse baseline CKD (p < 0.0001) and multi-fraction SABR (p = 0.005) were predictive for development of stage 4-5 CKD though only the former remained significant in multivariable model. CONCLUSION: In this elderly cohort with pre-existing renal dysfunction, SABR achieved satisfactory nephron sparing with acceptable rates of severe to end-stage CKD. It can be an attractive option in patients who are medically inoperable.

Targeting the Role of PRME in Regulating Bone Remodelling During Postmenopausal Osteoporosis.

Kariavattom Campus Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) is an old age disorder associated with estrogen deficiency, which reduces bone mass and makes bones more prone to fracture. The present study was proposed to evaluate the invivo osteogenic efficiency of Pterospermum rubiginosum methanolic bark extract (PRME) in the PMO model. Molecular docking studies on transcription factor NFATC1 showed excellent interactions with phytochemical ligands with the lowest binding energies. Female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (n=24) were divided into four groups, (n=6 each) sham control (Group I) and osteoporotic control (Group II) groups treated with saline, PRME (50 mg/kg/day) and alendronate (10 mg/kg/day) treated with Group III and Group IV (n=6) respectively. The serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b and cathepsin-K also exhibited a significant rise after PRME treatment 12.33±2.30 mU/ml and 427.68±46.97 pg/ml, respectively. DEXA results exhibited a remarkable increase in total bone mineral content and density values in PRME-treated animals (0.175±0.002 g/cm2) and (7.95±0.23 g) when compared to osteoporotic control (0.163±0.004 g/cm2) and (6.83±0.34 g). Long-term toxicity study revealed that PRME is non-toxic, up to 100 mg/kg bodyweight for 6 months. Our findings suggest PRME protects osteoporotic SD rats from PMO damage resulting from estrogen deficiency by regulating bone remodelling markers and upregulating BMD indices.

PCPro: a clinically accessible, circulating lipid biomarker signature for poor-prognosis metastatic prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Using comprehensive plasma lipidomic profiling from men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), we have previously identified a poor-prognostic lipid profile associated with shorter overall survival (OS). In order to translate this biomarker into the clinic, these men must be identifiable via a clinically accessible, regulatory-compliant assay. METHODS: A single regulatory-compliant liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry assay of candidate lipids was developed and tested on a mCRPC Discovery cohort of 105 men. Various risk-score Cox regression prognostic models of OS were built using the Discovery cohort. The model with the highest concordance index (PCPro) was chosen for validation and tested on an independent Validation cohort of 183 men. RESULTS: PCPro, the lipid biomarker, contains Cer(d18:1/18:0), Cer(d18:1/24:0), Cer(d18:1/24:1), triglycerides and total cholesterol. Within the Discovery and Validation cohorts, men who were PCPro positive had significantly shorter OS compared to those who were PCPro negative (Discovery: median OS 12.0 months vs 24.2 months, hazard ratio (HR) 3.75 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.29-6.15], p < 0.001, Validation: median OS 13.0 months vs 25.7 months, HR = 2.13 [95% CI 1.46-3.12], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We have developed PCPro, a lipid biomarker assay capable of prospectively identifying men with mCRPC with a poor prognosis. Prospective clinical trials are required to determine if men who are PCPro positive will benefit from therapeutic agents targeting lipid metabolism.

First-line talazoparib with enzalutamide in HRR-deficient metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: the phase 3 TALAPRO-2 trial.

Preclinical evidence has suggested an interplay between the androgen receptor, which largely drives the growth of prostate cancer cells, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. This association provides a rationale for their co-inhibition for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), an area of unmet medical need. The phase 3 TALAPRO-2 study investigated combining the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor talazoparib with enzalutamide versus enzalutamide alone as first-line treatment of mCRPC. Patients were prospectively assessed for tumor alterations in DNA damage response genes involved in homologous recombination repair (HRR). Two cohorts were enrolled sequentially: an all-comers cohort that was enrolled first (cohort 1; N = 805 (169 were HRR-deficient)), followed by an HRR-deficient-only cohort (cohort 2; N = 230). We present results from the alpha-controlled primary analysis for the combined HRR-deficient population (N = 399). Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to talazoparib or placebo, plus enzalutamide. The primary endpoint, radiographic progression-free survival, was met (median not reached at the time of the analysis for the talazoparib group versus 13.8 months for the placebo group; hazard ratio, 0.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.33 to 0.61; P < 0.0001). Data for overall survival, a key secondary endpoint, are immature but favor talazoparib (hazard ratio, 0.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.46 to 1.03; P = 0.07). Common adverse events in the talazoparib group were anemia, fatigue and neutropenia. Combining talazoparib with enzalutamide significantly improved radiographic progression-free survival in patients with mCRPC harboring HRR gene alterations, supporting talazoparib plus enzalutamide as a potential first-line treatment for these patients. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03395197 .

Administering [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 Prior to Radical Prostatectomy in Men with High-risk Localised Prostate Cancer (LuTectomy): A Single-centre, Single-arm, Phase 1/2 Study.

BACKGROUND: High-risk localised prostate cancer (HRCaP) has high rates of biochemical recurrence; [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 is effective in men with advanced prostate cancer. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the dosimetry, safety, and efficacy of upfront [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 in men with HRCaP prior to robotic radical prostatectomy (RP). DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: In this single-arm, phase I/II trial, we recruited men with HRCaP (any of prostate-specific antigen [PSA] >20 ng/ml, International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade group [GG] 3-5, and ≥cT2c), with high tumour uptake on [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PSMA PET/CT), and scheduled for RP. INTERVENTION: Cohort A (n = 10) received one cycle and cohort B (n = 10) received two cycles of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 (5 GBq) followed by surgery 6 weeks later. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The primary endpoint was tumour radiation absorbed dose. Adverse events (AEs; Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0), surgical safety (Clavien-Dindo), imaging, and biochemical responses were evaluated (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04430192). RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Between May 29, 2020 and April 28, 2022, 20 patients were enrolled. The median PSA was 18 ng/ml (interquartile range [IQR] 11-35), Eighteen (90%) had GG ≥3, and six (30%) had N1 disease. The median (IQR) highest tumour radiation absorbed dose after cycle 1 for all lesions was 35.5 Gy (19.5-50.1), with 19.6 Gy (11.3-48.4) delivered to the prostate. Five patients received radiation to lymph nodes. Nine (45%) patients achieved >50% PSA decline. The most common AEs related to [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 were grade 1 fatigue in eight (40%), nausea in seven (35%), dry mouth in six (30%), and thrombocytopenia in four (20%) patients. No grade 3/4 toxicities or Clavien 3-5 complications occurred. Limitations include small a sample size. CONCLUSIONS: In men with HRCaP and high prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) expression, [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 delivered high levels of targeted radiation doses with few toxicities and without compromising surgical safety. Further studies of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 in this population are worthwhile to determine whether meaningful long-term oncological benefits can be demonstrated. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this study, we demonstrate that up to two cycles of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 given prior to radical prostatectomy in patients with high-risk localised prostate cancer are safe and deliver targeted doses of radiation to tumour-affected tissues. It is tolerated well with minimal treatment-related adverse events, and surgery is safe with a low rate of complications. Activity measured through PSA reduction, repeat PSMA PET/CT, and histological response is promising.

Overall survival with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 versus cabazitaxel in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (TheraP): secondary outcomes of a randomised, open-label, phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: The TheraP study reported improved prostate-specific antigen responses with lutetium-177 [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 versus cabazitaxel in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer progressing after docetaxel. In this Article, we report the secondary outcome of overall survival with mature follow-up, and an updated imaging biomarker analysis. We also report the outcomes of participants excluded due to ineligibility on gallium-68 [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and 2-[18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-[18F]FDG) PET-CT. METHODS: TheraP was an open-label, randomised phase 2 trial at 11 centres in Australia. Eligible participants had metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer progressing after docetaxel, and PET imaging with [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and 2-[18F]FDG that showed prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive disease and no sites of metastatic disease with discordant 2-[18F]FDG-positive and PSMA-negative findings. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) to treatment with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 (every 6 weeks for a maximum of six cycles; starting at 8·5 GBq, decreasing by 0.5 GBq to 6·0 GBq for the sixth cycle) versus cabazitaxel (20 mg/m2 every 3 weeks, maximum of ten cycles). Overall survival was analysed by intention-to-treat and summarised as restricted mean survival time (RMST) to account for non-proportional hazards, with a 36-month restriction time corresponding to median follow-up. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03392428, and is complete. FINDINGS: 291 men were registered from Feb 6, 2018, to Sept 3, 2019; after study imaging, 200 were eligible and randomly assigned to treatment with [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 (n=99) or cabazitaxel (n=101). After completing study treatment, 20 (20%) participants assigned to cabazitaxel and 32 (32%) assigned to [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 were subsequently treated with the alternative regimen. After a median follow-up of 35·7 months (IQR 31·1 to 39·2), 77 (78%) participants had died in the [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 group and 70 (69%) participants had died in the cabazitaxel group. Overall survival was similar among those assigned to [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 versus those assigned to cabazitaxel (RMST 19·1 months [95% CI 16·9 to 21·4] vs 19·6 months [17·4 to 21·8]; difference -0·5 months [95% CI -3·7 to 2·7]; p=0·77). No additional safety signals were identified with the longer follow-up in this analysis. 80 (27%) of 291 men who were registered after initial eligibility screening were excluded after [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 and 2-[18F]FDG PET. In the 61 of these men with follow-up available, RMST was 11·0 months (95% CI 9·0 to 13·1). INTERPRETATION: These results support the use of [177Lu]Lu-PSMA-617 as an alternative to cabazitaxel for PSMA-positive metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer progressing after docetaxel. We did not find evidence that overall survival differed between the randomised groups. Median overall survival was shorter for men who were excluded because of low PSMA expression or 2-[18F]FDG-discordant disease. FUNDING: Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Endocyte (a Novartis company), Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization, Movember, It's a Bloke Thing, CAN4CANCER, and The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride.

TALAPRO-3 clinical trial protocol: phase III study of talazoparib plus enzalutamide in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer.

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors in combination with androgen-receptor signaling inhibitors are a promising therapeutic option for patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) and homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene alterations. Here, we describe the design and rationale of the multinational, phase III, TALAPRO-3 study comparing talazoparib plus enzalutamide versus placebo plus enzalutamide in patients with mCSPC and HRR gene alterations. The primary end point is investigator-assessed radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) per RECIST 1.1 in soft tissue, or per PCWG3 criteria in bone. The TALAPRO-3 study will demonstrate whether the addition of talazoparib can improve the efficacy of enzalutamide as assessed by rPFS in patients with mCSPC and HRR gene alterations undergoing androgen deprivation therapy. Clinical Trial Registration:NCT04821622 (ClinicalTrials.gov) Registry Name: Study of Talazoparib With Enzalutamide in Men With DDR Gene Mutated mCSPC. Date of Registration: 29 March 2021.

Role of FDG PET/CT in Management of Patients with Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide. [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging, a well-known and effective technique for detecting malignancies, has not been considered a useful tool for prostate cancer imaging by many because of its perceived low [18F]FDG uptake. Incidentally detected focal [18F]FDG uptake in the prostate is not uncommon, and typically benign. Imaging features that would increase concern for an underlying prostatic carcinoma, include focal uptake in the periphery near the gland margin without calcifications. [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging provides little value in the initial staging of prostate cancer, particularly in the era of prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA) radiotracer. In cases of biochemical recurrence, the value of [18F]FDG PET/CT increases notably when Grade group 4 or 5 and elevated PSA levels are present. Active research is underway for theranostic approaches to prostate cancer, including [177Lu]Lu-PSMA therapy. Dual tracer staging using FDG and PSMA imaging significantly enhances the accuracy of disease site assessment. Specifically, the addition of [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging allows for the evaluation of discordant disease (PSMA negative/FDG positive). The maximal benefit from [177Lu]Lu-PSMA therapy relies on significant PSMA accumulation across all disease sites, and the identification of discordant disease suggests that these patients may derive less benefit from the treatment. The genuine value of [18F]FDG PET/CT imaging lies in advanced prostate cancer, PSMA-negative disease, as a prognostic biomarker, and the realm of new targeted theranostic agents.

Cost Effectiveness of Systemic Treatment Intensification for Metastatic Hormone-sensitive Prostate Cancer: Is Triplet Therapy Cost Effective?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: There has been a shift toward systemic treatment intensification for men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Recent trials have demonstrated the efficacy of triplet therapy with an androgen receptor signalling inhibitor (ARSI), docetaxel, and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). However, ARSI treatment is expensive. The objective was to determine the cost effectiveness of current treatments strategies for men with mHSPC. METHODS: We developed a Markov state-transition model to simulate outcomes for men with newly diagnosed mHSPC. For the simulation, patients were entered in the model in the mHSPC disease state before progressing to castration-resistant disease and finally dying from prostate cancer. Costs were calculated from a USA health sector perspective in 2022 US dollars. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to account for uncertainty in the parameter estimates. We also performed scenario analyses for costs in the UK and Australian health sectors. KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS: Treatment intensification with doublet and triplet therapy resulted in an improvement in quality-adjusted survival for all strategies in comparison to ADT monotherapy. However, only docetaxel doublet therapy was cost effective at standard thresholds, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $13 647. The cost of ARSIs needed to be discounted by 47-70% before they were cost effective. Only medication costs impacted the model results. If the generic price for abiraterone acetate is used, then triplet therapy with abiraterone is the best-value option. Similar results were obtained for analyses for the UK and Australian health sectors. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Treatment intensification with ARSIs in men with mHSPC results in better quality-adjusted survival but is not cost effective according to standard thresholds. The costs of these medications would need to be heavily discounted before they are cost effective. The cost of generic ARSIs, once available, would render these strategies cost effective. PATIENT SUMMARY: This report examines whether increasing the number of systemic drugs used to treat a patient's metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer is cost effective for the health care system. We found that the additional cost of triplet therapy does not justify the increase in patient benefit.

Clinical Outcomes of Enzalutamide in Metastatic Hormone-sensitive Prostate Cancer in Patients Aged <75 and ≥75 Years: ARCHES Post Hoc Analysis.

BACKGROUND: In ARCHES, treatment intensification of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with enzalutamide versus placebo improved clinical outcomes in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Understanding the benefits and tolerability of enzalutamide for men aged ≥75 yr may inform disease management. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether age is associated with clinical outcomes in mHSPC. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A post hoc analysis of the multinational, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 ARCHES trial in 1150 men with mHSPC (median follow-up [mo]: <75 yr, 44.6; ≥75 yr, 44.3) was performed. INTERVENTION: Randomization 1:1 to enzalutamide (160 mg/d) plus ADT or placebo plus ADT; stratification by disease volume and prior docetaxel use. OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Overall survival (OS), radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS), safety, and other secondary endpoints were compared between age groups (<75 and ≥75 yr) and treatment arms (Cox proportional hazard models). RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: Men aged <75 versus ≥75 yr had longer OS (enzalutamide plus ADT: hazard ratio [HR] 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47-0.91; p = 0.02; placebo plus ADT: HR 0.81; 95% CI 0.60-1.09; p = 0.13) and rPFS (enzalutamide plus ADT: HR 0.78; 95% CI 0.58-1.04; p = 0.12; placebo plus ADT: HR 0.98; 95% CI 0.74-1.30; p = 0.007). Enzalutamide improved OS (<75 yr: HR 0.61; 95% CI 0.47-0.79; ≥75 yr: HR 0.76; 95% CI 0.54-1.09) and secondary efficacy endpoints without evidence of statistical heterogeneity, and was generally well tolerated in both age groups, with minimal quality-of-life impact. Older versus younger patients experienced more frequent dose interruptions (20.2% vs 10.9%) and treatment-emergent adverse events (95.2% vs 89.1%). Post hoc examination and small sample size preclude definitive conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: Enzalutamide plus ADT improved efficacy outcomes and was generally well tolerated despite shorter treatment exposure in older patients, indicating enzalutamide's utility in patients with mHSPC aged <75 and ≥75 yr. PATIENT SUMMARY: Enzalutamide is a drug approved to treat men with prostate cancer. In this report, we compared patients aged <75 and ≥75 yr treated with enzalutamide plus androgen deprivation therapy to determine whether age affected how long they lived without the cancer spreading to other parts of their body. We found that, although younger patients had more favorable survival outcomes, enzalutamide was associated with longer survival and reduced disease spread in both age groups.

A clinical pilot study for the detection of sphingomyelinase in leptospirosis patient's urine at tertiary care hospital.

Purpose: Leptospirosis is a perplexing mystification for many clinicians. Clinically often underdiagnosed due to lack of a rapid, sensitive, and specific diagnostic test. Currently available diagnostic tests have their own limitations; therefore, monitoring biomarkers that contribute an essential role in pathogenesis is crucial. Herein, a pilot study was conducted to detect the presence of sphingomyelinase in urine of leptospirosis patients. Methods: Blood and urine samples were collected from 140 patients having febrile illness. Samples were analyzed through culturing, dark-field microscopy, detecting anti-leptospiral antibodies by MAT, IgM ELISA, Leptocheck-WB and screening for sphingomyelinase using a sphingomyelinase assay kit. Results: Out of 140 febrile illness patients, 22.14 % were tested leptospirosis, 33.57 % were dengue, 25 % scrub typhus, 18.57 % malaria and 0.71 % co-infection (dengue-leptospirosis). MAT seropositivity of 19.28 % (27/140) was confirmed with the highest agglutinant determined against serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae RGA followed by Autumnalis, Australis, and Pyrogens. IgM ELISA and Leptocheck-WB positivity was 16.42 % and 13.57 % respectively. Whereas culture and dark-field microscopy showed a sensitivity of 4.28 % and 2.1 %, respectively. Out of 31 confirmed cases of leptospirosis, sphingomyelinase was detected in the urine of 25 (80.64 %) patients, MAT positivity was seen in 87.09 % and culture positivity was seen in 12.90 % of cases. Conclusion: Detection of sphingomyelinase in the urine of a leptospirosis patient and its absence in other febrile illnesses like dengue, malaria and scrub typhus establish evidence of secretion of sphingomyelinase in urine during leptospiral infection. Hence, sphingomyelinase could be used as a potential diagnostic biomarker to detect leptospirosis in a non-invasive way.

Treatment patterns and outcomes in older adults with castration-resistant prostate cancer: Analysis of an Australian real-world cohort.

INTRODUCTION: Prostate cancer (PC) is the second commonest malignancy and fifth leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide. Older men are more likely to develop PC but are underrepresented in pivotal clinical trials, leading to challenges in treatment selection in the real-world setting. We aimed to examine treatment patterns and outcomes in older Australians with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 753 men with mCRPC within the electronic CRPC Australian Database (ePAD). Clinical data were analysed retrospectively to assess outcomes including time to treatment failure (TTF), overall survival (OS), PSA doubling time (PSADT), PSA50 response rate, and pre-defined adverse events of special interest (AESIs). Descriptive statistics were used to report baseline characteristics, stratified by age groups (<75y, 75-85y and >85y). Groups were compared using Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-square analyses. Time-to-event analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier methods and compared through log-rank tests. Cox proportional hazards univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the influence of variables on OS. RESULTS: Fifty-seven percent of men were aged <75y, 31% 75-85y, and 12% >85y. Patients ≥75y more frequently received only one line of systemic therapy (40% of <75y vs 66% 75-85y vs 68% >85y; P < 0.01). With increasing age, patients were more likely to receive androgen receptor signalling inhibitors (ARSIs) as initial therapy (42% of <75y vs 70% of 75-85y vs 84% of >85y; p < 0.01). PSA50 response rates or TTF did not significantly differ between age groups for chemotherapy or ARSIs. Patients >85y receiving enzalutamide had poorer OS but this was not an independent prognostic variable on multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR] 0.93(0.09-9.35); p = 0.95). PSADT >3 months was an independent positive prognostic factor for patients receiving any systemic therapy. Older patients who received docetaxel were more likely to experience AESIs (18% in <75y vs 37% 75-85y vs 33% >85y, p = 0.038) and to stop treatment as a result (21% in <75y vs 39% in 75-85y; p = 0.011). DISCUSSION: In our mCRPC cohort, older men received fewer lines of systemic therapy and were more likely to cease docetaxel due to adverse events. However, treatment outcomes were similar in most subgroups, highlighting the importance of individualised assessment regardless of age.

BRCA-deficient metastatic prostate cancer has an adverse prognosis and distinct genomic phenotype.

BACKGROUND: Genomic alterations in DNA damage response (DDR) genes are common in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Understanding how these genomic events impact prognosis and/or treatment response is vital for optimising clinical outcomes. METHODS: Targeted sequencing was performed on 407 plasma samples from 375 men with mCRPC. Using the CLIA-certified PredicineCARE™ cell-free DNA (cfDNA) assay, pathogenic alterations in 152 key genes (including 27 DDR-related genes) were assessed, as was the presence and mechanisms of biallelic loss in BRCA2. FINDINGS: At least one DDR alteration was present in 34.5% (129/375) of patients (including monoallelic alterations). The most frequently altered DDR genes were BRCA2 (19%), ATM (13%), FANCA (5%), CHEK2 (5%) and BRCA1 (3%). Patients with BRCA alterations, especially BRCA2, had significantly worse progression-free survival (PFS) (Hazard ratio (HR) 3.3 [95% CI 1.9-6.0]; Cox regression p < 0.001), overall survival (HR 2.2 [95% CI 1.1-4.5]; Cox regression p = 0.02) and PSA response rates to androgen receptor (AR) pathway inhibitors (32% vs 60%, chi-square p = 0.02). BRCA-deficient tumours were also enriched for alterations within multiple genes including in the AR and PI3K pathways. Zygosity of BRCA2 alterations had no discernible impact on clinical outcomes, with similarly poor PFS for monoallelic vs biallelic loss (median 3.9 months vs 3.4 months vs copy neutral 9.8 months). INTERPRETATION: These data emphasise that the BRCA genes, in particular BRCA2, are key prognostic biomarkers in mCRPC. The clinical utility of BRCA2 as a marker of poor outcomes may, at least in cfDNA assays, be independent of the zygosity state detected. Enrichment of actionable genomic alterations in cfDNA from BRCA-deficient mCRPC may support rational co-targeting strategies in future clinical trials. FUNDING: Several funding sources have supported this study. A full list is provided in the Acknowledgments. No funding was received from Predicine, Inc. during the conduct of the study.

Multi-Omic Integration of Blood-Based Tumor-Associated Genomic and Lipidomic Profiles Using Machine Learning Models in Metastatic Prostate Cancer.

PURPOSE: To determine prognostic and predictive clinical outcomes in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) and metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) on the basis of a combination of plasma-derived genomic alterations and lipid features in a longitudinal cohort of patients with advanced prostate cancer. METHODS: A multifeature classifier was constructed to predict clinical outcomes using plasma-based genomic alterations detected in 120 genes and 772 lipidomic species as informative features in a cohort of 71 patients with mHSPC and 144 patients with mCRPC. Outcomes of interest were collected over 11 years of follow-up. These included in mHSPC state early failure of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) and exceptional responders to ADT; early death (poor prognosis) and long-term survivors in mCRPC state. The approach was to build binary classification models that identified discriminative candidates with optimal weights to predict outcomes. To achieve this, we built multi-omic feature-based classifiers using traditional machine learning (ML) methods, including logistic regression with sparse regularization, multi-kernel Gaussian process regression, and support vector machines. RESULTS: The levels of specific ceramides (d18:1/14:0 and d18:1/17:0), and the presence of CHEK2 mutations, AR amplification, and RB1 deletion were identified as the most crucial factors associated with clinical outcomes. Using ML models, the optimal multi-omics feature combination determined resulted in AUC scores of 0.751 for predicting mHSPC survival and 0.638 for predicting ADT failure; and in mCRPC state, 0.687 for prognostication and 0.727 for exceptional survival. The models were observed to be superior than using a limited candidate number of features for developing multi-omic prognostic and predictive signatures. CONCLUSION: Using a ML approach that incorporates multiple omic features improves the prediction accuracy for metastatic prostate cancer outcomes significantly. Validation of these models will be needed in independent data sets in future.