Functional Outcomes After Localized Prostate Cancer Treatment.

Importance: Adverse outcomes associated with treatments for localized prostate cancer remain unclear. Objective: To compare rates of adverse functional outcomes between specific treatments for localized prostate cancer. Design, Setting, and Participants: An observational cohort study using data from 5 US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program registries. Participants were treated for localized prostate cancer between 2011 and 2012. At baseline, 1877 had favorable-prognosis prostate cancer (defined as cT1-cT2bN0M0, prostate-specific antigen level <20 ng/mL, and grade group 1-2) and 568 had unfavorable-prognosis prostate cancer (defined as cT2cN0M0, prostate-specific antigen level of 20-50 ng/mL, or grade group 3-5). Follow-up data were collected by questionnaire through February 1, 2022. Exposures: Radical prostatectomy (n = 1043), external beam radiotherapy (n = 359), brachytherapy (n = 96), or active surveillance (n = 379) for favorable-prognosis disease and radical prostatectomy (n = 362) or external beam radiotherapy with androgen deprivation therapy (n = 206) for unfavorable-prognosis disease. Main Outcomes and Measures: Outcomes were patient-reported sexual, urinary, bowel, and hormone function measured using the 26-item Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (range, 0-100; 100 = best). Associations of specific therapies with each outcome were estimated and compared at 10 years after treatment, adjusting for corresponding baseline scores, and patient and tumor characteristics. Minimum clinically important differences were 10 to 12 for sexual function, 6 to 9 for urinary incontinence, 5 to 7 for urinary irritation, and 4 to 6 for bowel and hormone function. Results: A total of 2445 patients with localized prostate cancer (median age, 64 years; 14% Black, 8% Hispanic) were included and followed up for a median of 9.5 years. Among 1877 patients with favorable prognosis, radical prostatectomy was associated with worse urinary incontinence (adjusted mean difference, -12.1 [95% CI, -16.2 to -8.0]), but not worse sexual function (adjusted mean difference, -7.2 [95% CI, -12.3 to -2.0]), compared with active surveillance. Among 568 patients with unfavorable prognosis, radical prostatectomy was associated with worse urinary incontinence (adjusted mean difference, -26.6 [95% CI, -35.0 to -18.2]), but not worse sexual function (adjusted mean difference, -1.4 [95% CI, -11.1 to 8.3), compared with external beam radiotherapy with androgen deprivation therapy. Among patients with unfavorable prognosis, external beam radiotherapy with androgen deprivation therapy was associated with worse bowel (adjusted mean difference, -4.9 [95% CI, -9.2 to -0.7]) and hormone (adjusted mean difference, -4.9 [95% CI, -9.5 to -0.3]) function compared with radical prostatectomy. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients treated for localized prostate cancer, radical prostatectomy was associated with worse urinary incontinence but not worse sexual function at 10-year follow-up compared with radiotherapy or surveillance among people with more favorable prognosis and compared with radiotherapy for those with unfavorable prognosis. Among men with unfavorable-prognosis disease, external beam radiotherapy with androgen deprivation therapy was associated with worse bowel and hormone function at 10-year follow-up compared with radical prostatectomy.

Darolutamide and survival in metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: a patient and caregiver perspective and plain language summary of the ARASENS trial.

WHAT IS THIS SUMMARY ABOUT?: This is a summary of a publication about the ARASENS trial, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in February 2022. The trial includes 1,306 men with a type of prostate cancer called metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (also called mHSPC). In the trial, researchers wanted to learn if combining a treatment called darolutamide (also known by the brand name Nubeqa®) with two other medicines called androgen deprivation therapy (also called ADT) and docetaxel (brand name Taxotere®) could help treat patients with mHSPC better than placebo plus ADT and docetaxel. ADT with docetaxel is a treatment used for patients with mHSPC. Darolutamide is an approved treatment for a different type of prostate cancer called non-metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer (also called nmCRPC). WHAT WERE THE RESULTS?: The trial results showed that combining darolutamide with ADT and docetaxel increased the chance of survival and lowered the risk of death by 32.5% compared to combining ADT and docetaxel with placebo instead. Compared to patients who received the placebo, patients who received darolutamide had a delay in: their cancer becoming castration-resistant worsening pain having cancer-related bone fractures or related symptoms needing additional therapies for cancer The percentage of trial patients who had medical problems during the trial, also called adverse events, was similar between trial patients who received darolutamide and those who received the placebo. WHAT DO THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY MEAN?: Combining darolutamide with ADT and docetaxel helped treat trial patients with mHSPC better than placebo with ADT and docetaxel. Darolutamide in combination with ADT and docetaxel could be a treatment option for patients with mHSPC. Patients should always talk to their doctors and nurses before making any decisions about their treatment. This summary also includes perspectives on the ARASENS trial and prostate cancer from 3 members of the patient community. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT number: NCT02799602.

Efficacy and safety of Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) combined with modified docetaxel chemotherapy versus ADT combined with standard docetaxel chemotherapy in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: study protocol for a multicentre prospective randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) combined with docetaxel chemotherapy is the standard treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. However, mCRPC patients are mainly frail elderly men, constantly accompanied by comorbidities and showing poor tolerance to standard docetaxel chemotherapy. Some exploratory studies administering modified chemotherapy regimens have reported noninferior oncologic outcomes with fewer adverse events, yet most are retrospective or small studies, and prospective randomized controlled trials have rarely been conducted. Therefore, we designed this modified docetaxel chemotherapy regimen in patients with mCRPC, aiming to evaluate its efficacy and safety compared with the standard docetaxel chemotherapy regimen. METHODS: This is an open-label, multi-institutional, prospective, randomized non-inferiority trial. A total of 128 patients with mCRPC will be randomized to receive ADT combined with modified docetaxel chemotherapy (experimental group, n=64) or ADT combined with standard docetaxel chemotherapy (control group, n=64). Patients in the experimental group will receive a modified regimen with docetaxel 40 mg/m2 on the 1st day and 35 mg/m2 on the 8th day, repeated every 21 days. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival at 2 years. Secondary endpoints include overall survival, prostate-specific antigen response rate, pain response rate, toxicity and quality of life. DISCUSSION: The expected benefit for the patient in the experimental arm is noninferior efficacy with decreased toxicity and improved quality of life compared with that in the control arm. To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first multicentre prospective randomized study to assess the efficacy and safety of modified docetaxel chemotherapy in patients with mCRPC in China. The results of this trial may provide benefit to mCRPC patients, especially those with poor performance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: chictr.org.cn Identifier: ChiCTR2100046636 (May 24, 2021). Ongoing study.

Social cognitive outcomes are associated with improvements in mobility performance following lifestyle intervention in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of an exercise and dietary intervention with those of standard-of-care management upon change in lift and carry performance and mobility-related self-efficacy beliefs and explore associations in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy. METHODS: 32 prostate cancer patients (M age = 66.2 years; SD = 7.8) undergoing androgen deprivation therapy were randomly assigned to a 3-month exercise and dietary lifestyle intervention (n = 16) or standard-of-care management (n = 16). Outcome assessments were obtained at baseline, 2- and 3-month follow-up. RESULTS: The lifestyle intervention resulted in significantly greater improvements in lift and carry performance (p = 0.01) at 2 Months (d = 1.01; p < 0.01) and 3 Months (d = 0.95; p < 0.01) and superior improvements in mobility-related self-efficacy at 2 Months (d = 0.38) and 3 Months (d = 0.58) relative to standard-of-care. Mobility-related self-efficacy (r = -.66; p = 0.006) and satisfaction with function (r = -.63; p = 0.01) were significantly correlated with lift and carry performance at 3 Months. CONCLUSIONS: The exercise and dietary lifestyle intervention yielded superior improvements in lift and carry performance and mobility-related self-efficacy relative to standard-of-care and key social cognitive outcomes were associated with more favorable mobility performance.

Differences in sex hormone recovery profile after cessation of 12-week gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist versus agonist therapy.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacobiological behavior differs between gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists and GnRH agonists. However, reliable evidence clarifying the difference between them is limited. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to elucidate the difference in recovery profile between GnRH antagonist (degarelix) and GnRH agonist (leuprorelin acetate or goserelin acetate) as short-term (12 weeks) neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) prior to 125I-transperineal prostate brachytherapy (TPPB) for localized prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was initially designed as a single-center, prospective, open-label, randomized controlled trial. The primary endpoint was a serum testosterone level above the castration range (>50 ng/dl) after the cessation of 12-week neoadjuvant ADT (GnRH antagonist or GnRH agonists). All patients underwent 12 weeks of neoadjuvant ADT. The recovery profiles of hormones, prostate-specific antigen, total prostate volume (TPV), bone mineral density, and quality of life scores were investigated. RESULTS: Testosterone recovery duration after the last injection was significantly longer in the GnRH antagonist arm than in the GnRH agonist arm (median, 27.3 vs. 4.8 weeks, p < 0.001). The serum levels of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone in the GnRH antagonist arm also remained significantly lower than those in the GnRH agonist arm between 16 and 24 weeks (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, reduction in TPV at the time of TPPB was comparable between both arms (p = 0.128). There were also no significant between-arm differences in the International Prostate Symptom Score and the International Index of Erectile Function scores. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The recovery patterns of hormonal profiles after short-term (12 weeks) neoadjuvant ADT differ between GnRH antagonists and GnRH agonists. The choice between these drugs matters and may have a clinical impact depending on the primary objective of ADT.

The Role of Estrone in Feminizing Hormone Treatment.

CONTEXT: In trans women, hormone treatment induces feminization; however, the degree of feminization varies from person to person. A possible contributing factor could be estrone, a weak estrogen that interferes with the estrogen receptor. OBJECTIVE: We assessed whether estrone is involved in feminization induced by hormone treatment. METHODS: This prospective cohort study, with follow-up of 1 year, included 212 adult trans women at a gender identity clinic, who were starting gender-affirming hormone treatment between July 2017 and December 2019, median age 25 years. Change in fat percentage and breast development were assessed. RESULTS: After 12 months of hormone treatment, estrone concentration was 187 pmol/L (95% CI, 153-220) in transdermal and 1516 pmol/L (95% CI, 1284-1748) in oral estradiol users. Fat percentage increased by 1.2% (interquartile range [IQR], 0.3-4.8) in transdermal and 4.6% (IQR, 2.5-5.9) in oral estradiol users. This was not associated with estrone concentrations in transdermal (+4.4% (95% CI, -4.0 to 13) per 100 pmol/L increase in estrone concentration) nor in oral estradiol users (-0.7% [95% CI, -1.7 to 0.3]). Breast volume increased by 69 mL (IQR, 58-134) in transdermal and 62 mL (IQR, 32-95) in oral estradiol users. This was not associated with estrone concentrations in transdermal (+14% [95% CI, -49 to 156] per 100 pmol/L increase in estrone concentration) nor oral estradiol users (+11% [95% CI -14 to 43]). CONCLUSIONS: Change in fat percentage and breast development in trans women were not associated with estrone concentrations nor with administration route. Therefore, measurement of estrone concentrations does not have a place in the monitoring of feminization in trans women.

Abiraterone acetate versus nonsteroidal antiandrogen with androgen deprivation therapy for high-risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although prostate cancer is a very common form of malignancy in men, the clinical significance of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with abiraterone acetate versus the nonsteroidal antiandrogen bicalutamide has not yet been verified in patients with high-risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). The present study was designed to initiate this verification in real-world Japanese clinical practice. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 312 patients with high-risk mHSPC based on LATITUDE criteria and had received ADT with bicalutamide (n = 212) or abiraterone acetate (n = 100) between September 2015 and December 2020. Bicalutamide was given at 80 mg daily and abiraterone was given at 1000 mg daily as four 250-mg tablets plus prednisolone (5-10 mg daily). Overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and time to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) were compared. The prognostic factor for time to CRPC was analyzed by Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: Patients in the bicalutamide group were older, and more of them had poor performance status (≧2), than in the abiraterone group. Impaired liver function was noted in 2% of the bicalutamide group and 16% of the abiraterone group (p < 0.001). Median follow-up was 22.5 months for bicalutamide and 17 months for abiraterone (p < 0.001). Two-year OS and CSS for bicalutamide versus abiraterone was 77.8% versus 79.5% (p = 0.793) and 81.1% versus 82.5% (p = 0.698), respectively. Median time to CRPC was significantly longer in the abiraterone group than in the bicalutamide group (NA vs. 13 months, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, Gleason score ≧9, high alkaline phosphatase, high lactate dehydrogenase, liver metastasis, and bicalutamide were independent prognostic risk factors for time to CRPC. Abiraterone prolonged the time to CRPC in patients with each of these prognostic factors. CONCLUSIONS: Despite limitations regarding the time-dependent bias, ADT with abiraterone acetate significantly prolonged the time to CRPC compared to bicalutamide in patients with high-risk mHSPC. However, further study with longer follow-up is needed.

Eficacia y seguridad de apalutamida y enzalutamida en pacientes adultos con diagnóstico de cáncer de próstata resistente a la castración no metastásico (Actualización) / Efficacy and safety of apalutamide and enzalutamide in adult patients diagnosed with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (Update)

ANTECEDENTES: El presente documento se ha elaborado en el marco de la metodología ad hoc para evaluar solicitudes de tecnologías sanitarias, aprobada mediante Resolución de Institución de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud e Investigación N° 111-IETSI-ESSALUD-2021. La eficacia y seguridad de apalutamida y enzalutamida fue evaluada previamente en el Dictamen Preliminar de Evaluación de Tecnología Sanitaria N.° 047-SDEPFyOTS-DETS-IETSI-2019, en pacientes adultos con diagnóstico de cáncer de próstata resistente a la castración no metastásico (CPRCnm), con tiempo de duplicación del antígeno prostático específico (PSA, por sus siglas en inglés) menor o igual de 10 meses. En aquel dictamen, se evaluó la evidencia proveniente de los ensayos clínicos (EC) de fase III PROSPER que evaluó el uso de enzalutamida más la terapia de privación de andrógenos (ADT, por sus siglas en inglés) vs. placebo más ADT y SPARTAN que evaluó apalutamida más ADT vs. placebo más ADT. METODOLOGÍA: Se llevó a cabo una búsqueda bibliográfica exhaustiva con el objetivo de identificar nueva evidencia científica sobre la eficacia y seguridad de apalutamida más ADT y enzalutamida más ADT, en comparación con ADT sola, en pacientes adultos con diagnóstico de CPRCnm con tiempo de duplicación del PSA ≤ 10 meses. La búsqueda bibliográfica se realizó en las bases de datos PubMed. The Cochrane Library y LILACS. Asimismo, se realizó una búsqueda manual dentro de las páginas web pertenecientes a grupos que realizan guías de práctica clínica (GPC) y evaluación de tecnologías sanitarias (ETS) incluyendo la National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), El Instituto de Calidad y Eficiencia en la Atención de la Salud (IQWiG, por sus siglas en alemán), la Base Regional de Informes de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud de las Américas (BRISA), la OMS, el Ministerio de Salud del Perú (MINSA) y el Instituto de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud e Investigación (IETSI). Además, se realizó una búsqueda de GPC de las principales sociedades o instituciones especializadas en Oncología, tales como: European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). Finalmente, se realizó una búsqueda en la página web de registro de EC, www.clinicaltrials.gov, para identificar EC en curso o que no hayan sido publicados aún. RESULTADOS: Luego de la búsqueda bibliográfica, desde octubre de 2019 hasta agosto 2021, se identificaron 5 GPC desarrolladas por la National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)(NCCN 2021), la European Association of Urology (EAU), la Sociedad Europea de Oncología Médica (ESMO), la Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica (SEOM), la Canadian Urological Association (CUA) en colaboración Canadian Uro Oncology Group (CUOG), así como 2 ETS realizadas por The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health (IQWIG) y SEOM, y las publicaciones de los resultados finales de dos ECA de fase III (PROSPER para enzalutamida y SPARTAN para apalutamida) que responden a la pregunta PICO. Cabe mencionar que ambos ECA han sido descritos detalladamente en el dictamen previo. CONCLUSIÓN: Por lo expuesto, el Instituto de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud e Investigación mantiene la decisión del Dictamen Preliminar de Evaluación de Tecnología Sanitaria N.° 047-SDEPFYOTS-DETS-IETSI-2019, al no contarse con argumentos técnicos que justifiquen la reconsideración del mismo.

Treatment patterns and survival in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer in the US Veterans Health Administration.

BACKGROUND: Limited real-world data exist on treatment patterns and outcomes in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, using the Veterans Health Administration claims database (April 2013-March 2018). Among 369,734 prostate cancer patients, we selected all men who developed metastases within 90 days before or after medical/surgical castration and who received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Patients were categorized into four cohorts: ADT-only (± <90-day nonsteroidal anti-androgen [NSAA] use), ADT + NSAA, ADT + docetaxel, and ADT + abiraterone. Main outcomes were treatment patterns, time-to-progression to metastatic castration-resistant disease, and overall survival. Multivariable analysis and sensitivity analysis were conducted. RESULTS: Of 1395 patients, 874 (63%) received ADT-only, 338 (24%) received ADT + NSAA, 108 (8%) received ADT + docetaxel, and 75 (5%) received ADT + abiraterone. Proportions on ADT-only and ADT + NSAA declined (from 66% to 60% and from 31% to 17%, respectively) over the study period, while proportions prescribed ADT + docetaxel or abiraterone increased from 3% to 9% and from 1% to 15%, respectively. Patients treated with ADT + NSAA had similar risks of castration-resistant disease (hazard ratio [HR] 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.87, 1.26) and overall mortality (HR 1.22; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.54) as ADT-only. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with mCSPC initiating ADT received ADT-only or ADT + NSAA, despite the emergence of docetaxel and novel hormonal therapies. Even in the most recent period (2017 to early 2018), only 24% of men received intensified therapy with agents known to prolong survival versus ADT-only. These data in real-world clinical practice suggest substantial room for improved outcomes in patients with mCSPC.

Spironolactone hyaluronic acid enriched cerosomes (HAECs) for topical management of hirsutism: in silico studies, statistical optimization, ex vivo, and in vivo studies.

Spironolactone (SP) is a potassium sparing diuretic with antiandrogenic properties. This study aimed at formulating SP into hyaluronic acid enriched cerosomes (HAECs) for topical management of hirsutism. HAECs were prepared by ethanol injection method, according to D-optimal design, after a proper in silico study. HAECs were evaluated by measuring their entrapment efficiency (EE%), particle size (PS), and polydispersity index (PDI). Optimal hyaluronic acid enriched cerosomes (OHAECs) were subjected to further in vitro and ex-vivo and in-vivo studies. The in silico study concluded better interactions between SP and phosphatidyl choline in presence of hyaluronic acid (HA) and high stability of their binding in water. The prepared HAECs had acceptable EE%, PS, and PDI values. The statistical optimization process suggested OHAEC containing 10.5 mg ceramide III and 15 mg HA, utilizing Kolliphor® RH40. OHAEC had EE% and PS of 89.3 ± 0.3% and 261.8 ± 7.0 nm, respectively. OHAEC was stable for up to 3 months. It also showed a mixed tubular and vesicular appearance under transmission electron microscope. The ex vivo and in vivo studies concluded better skin deposition and accumulation of SP from OHAEC. The histopathological study demonstrated the safety of OHAEC for topical application. Therefore, OHAEC could be considered as effective system for topical application of SP to manage hirsutism, with prolonged action, coupled with minimized side effects.

Consistent survival benefit of enzalutamide plus androgen deprivation therapy in men with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: PROSPER subgroup analysis by age and region.

BACKGROUND: Enzalutamide combined with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) significantly prolonged metastasis-free survival and overall survival (OS) versus ADT alone in patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) with rapidly rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA). The objective of this post hoc analysis of the PROSPER trial is to evaluate OS benefit and safety of enzalutamide in patients across age and regional subgroups. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible men with nmCRPC, PSA doubling time ≤10 months and PSA ≥2 ng/mL with continued ADT use were randomised 2:1 to enzalutamide 160 mg or placebo. OS and safety were examined by age (<70 vs ≥70 years) and region (North America, Europe, Asia or the rest of the world). The impact of prior and subsequent therapy was also examined. RESULTS: In total, 1401 men were enrolled (median age, 74 years). Enzalutamide plus ADT reduced the risk of death, independent of age or region. Multivariate analyses identified Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) status (P < 0.0001), log (PSA; P = 0.0002) and subsequent therapy (P < 0.0001) as statistically significant factors impacting OS. Safety was consistent across age and regional subgroups. Any grade treatment-emergent adverse events were similar across age groups, were more common in the placebo group and had regional variation. CONCLUSIONS: In men with nmCRPC and rapidly rising PSA, the benefit and safety of enzalutamide were consistent across age and regional subgroups. Variables impacting OS included ECOG status, log (PSA) and subsequent therapy. CLINICALTRIALS. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT02003924.

A prospective phase-II trial of biweekly docetaxel plus androgen deprivation therapy in patients with previously-untreated metastatic castration-naïve prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this prospective phase II study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of biweekly docetaxel plus androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with metastatic castration-naïve prostate cancer (mCNPC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with histologically-proven, previously-untreated mCNPC received ADT plus docetaxel, 40 mg/m2. Docetaxel was repeated every 2 weeks, up to 12 cycles. Endpoints included castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)-free survival, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, and safety. RESULTS: A total of 42 patients were registered and analyzed for final outcomes. Of the 42 patients, 36 (86%) completed the 12 planned cycles of docetaxel plus ADT. During a median follow up of 25 months, all but two patients (95%) achieved a PSA response with a nadir PSA level of 0.42 ng/ml (range 0.01-1280.87). The median CRPC-free survival was 26.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.9-32.0) with a one-year CRPC-free rate of 79% (33 patients, 95% CI 66-91). Multivariable analysis revealed that the performance status of the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0 was independently associated with longer CRPC-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.27, 95% CI 0.07-0.99). The most common adverse events of any grade were anemia (95%), followed by nail changes (33%), fatigue (29%), and oral mucositis (26%). Severe (grade 3 or higher) adverse events were infrequent: pneumonitis (n = 2), diarrhea (n = 1), and neutropenia (n = 1). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that biweekly docetaxel plus ADT is feasible, and clinical efficacy does not seem to be compromised compared to a standard triweekly docetaxel 75 mg/m2 plus ADT regimen.

Development of 2-(5,6,7-Trifluoro-1H-Indol-3-yl)-quinoline-5-carboxamide as a Potent, Selective, and Orally Available Inhibitor of Human Androgen Receptor Targeting Its Binding Function-3 for the Treatment of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

Prostate cancer (PCa) patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy almost invariably develop castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Targeting the androgen receptor (AR) Binding Function-3 (BF3) site offers a promising option to treat CRPC. However, BF3 inhibitors have been limited by poor potency or inadequate metabolic stability. Through extensive medicinal chemistry, molecular modeling, and biochemistry, we identified 2-(5,6,7-trifluoro-1H-Indol-3-yl)-quinoline-5-carboxamide (VPC-13789), a potent AR BF3 antagonist with markedly improved pharmacokinetic properties. We demonstrate that VPC-13789 suppresses AR-mediated transcription, chromatin binding, and recruitment of coregulatory proteins. This novel AR antagonist selectively reduces the growth of both androgen-dependent and enzalutamide-resistant PCa cell lines. Having demonstrated in vitro efficacy, we developed an orally bioavailable prodrug that reduced PSA production and tumor volume in animal models of CRPC with no observed toxicity. VPC-13789 is a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable antiandrogen with a distinct mode of action that has a potential as novel CRPC therapeutics.

Androgen deprivation therapy and excess mortality in men with prostate cancer during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Men have a higher risk of death from COVID-19 than women and androgens facilitate entrance of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into respiratory epithelial cells. Thus, androgen deprivation therapy may reduce infection rates and improve outcomes for COVID-19. In the spring of 2020, Sweden was highly affected by COVID-19. The aim was to estimate the impact of androgen deprivation therapy on mortality from COVID-19 in men with prevalent prostate cancer by comparing all-cause mortality in the spring of 2020 to that in previous years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the Prostate Cancer data Base Sweden all men with prostate cancer on March 1 each year in 2015-2020 were followed until June 30 the same year. Exposure to androgen deprivation therapy was ascertained from filled prescriptions for bicalutamide monotherapy, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH), or bilateral orchidectomy. RESULTS: A total of 9,822 men died in March-June in the years 2015-2020, of whom 5,034 men were on androgen deprivation therapy. There was an excess mortality in 2020 vs previous years in all men. The crude relative mortality rate ratio for 2020 vs 2015-2019 was 0.93 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83 to 1.04) in men on GnRH, and 0.90 (95% CI 0.78 to 1.05) in men on bicalutamide monotherapy. After multivariable adjustment these ratios were attenuated to 1.00 (95% CI 0.89 to 1.12) and 0.97 (95% CI 0.84 to 1.12), respectively. When restricting the analysis to the regions with the highest incidence of COVID-19 or to the time period between 2 April to 10 June when mortality in 2020 was increased >30% compared to previous years, the results were similar to the main analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In this large national population-based cohort of men with prevalent prostate cancer, there was no clear evidence in support for an effect of androgen deprivation therapy on COVID-19 mortality.

Abiraterone acetate plus prednisone in non-metastatic biochemically recurrent castration-naïve prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Intermittent androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in biochemically recurrent castration-naïve prostate cancer is non-inferior to continuous therapy. We hypothesised that finite-duration abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (Abi +P) added to ADT will further reduce the duration of treatment exposure by prolonging time to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence without impacting eugonad state recovery. METHODS: This phase II, randomised, open-label trial enrolled patients with rising PSA ≥ 0.2 ng/ml after radical prostatectomy and/or a PSA ≥ 1 following radiotherapy. Patients were randomised 1:1 to receive Abi (1 g PO daily) + P (5 mg PO daily) + ADT or ADT alone for 8 months. The primary end-point was PSA-free survival difference at 1 year following completion of therapy. RESULTS: Between February 2013 and July 2016, 200 patients were enrolled. Of 100 patients randomised to each arm, 99 in the Abi +P arm and 98 in the ADT arm were evaluable. Median follow-up was 64.4 months. Median PSA-free survival was 27.0 months for the Abi +P-treated group versus 19.9 months for the ADT-treated group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47-0.87). The PSA-free survival at 1 year post-treatment completion was 98% for the Abi +P group and 88% for the ADT group. Median time to eugonad state was 13.1 months for the abiraterone-treated group and 12.8 months for the ADT-treated group. Median eugonad PSA-free survival was 12.5 months for the abiraterone-treated group versus 9.0 for the ADT-treated group (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.53-0.98). There were no significant between-group differences in androgen deprivation-related adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: In men with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer following definitive treatment of the primary, finite duration treatment with ADT and Abi +P results in a significantly longer PSA relapse-free interval than treatment with ADT alone.

Pharmacokinetics and Use-Testing of Apalutamide Prepared in Aqueous Food Vehicles for Alternative Administration.

Patients may have difficulty swallowing a whole daily dose of 240 mg (4 × 60-mg tablets) of apalutamide. One of the unique properties of apalutamide tablets is easy disintegration and dispersion when mixed into aqueous vehicles, avoiding the need to crush/split the tablets. To evaluate whether this method of apalutamide tablet administration would be conducive in a patient setting, different variations in preparation were evaluated, and one preparation was tested in humans. In vitro compatibility studies evaluated purity, dose, or stability of different variations of apalutamide in applesauce/yogurt/orange juice/green tea. An open-label, randomized, crossover phase 1 study in healthy men determined the bioavailability of an apalutamide-applesauce mixture versus whole tablets based on maximum plasma analyte concentration (Cmax ), area under the plasma analyte concentration-time curve: AUC0-72h and AUC0-168h . Different amounts of applesauce/yogurt/orange juice/green tea as well as durations (up to 6 hours) did not affect the total apalutamide content available. The phase 1 study (n = 12) showed increased total exposure of 5% and peak exposure of 27.6% when comparing the apalutamide-applesauce mixture with whole-tablet administration. Variations in preparation times and total content for applesauce/yogurt/orange juice/green tea did not affect the purity, dose, or stability of apalutamide. An apalutamide-applesauce mixture is a suitable alternative administration method to whole tablets.

Darolutamide and health-related quality of life in patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: An analysis of the phase III ARAMIS trial.

BACKGROUND: In the ARAMIS trial, darolutamide plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) versus placebo plus ADT significantly improved metastasis-free survival (MFS), overall survival (OS) and time to pain progression in patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC). Herein, we present analyses of patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trial randomised patients with nmCRPC and prostate-specific antigen doubling time ≤10 months to darolutamide 600 mg (n = 955) twice daily or matched placebo (n = 554) while continuing ADT. The primary end-point was MFS; the secondary end-points included OS and time to pain progression. In this analysis, HRQoL was assessed by the time to deterioration using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate (FACT-P) prostate cancer subscale (PCS) and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Prostate Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-PR25) subscales. RESULTS: Darolutamide significantly prolonged time to deterioration of FACT-P PCS versus placebo (hazard ratio [HR] 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70-0.91; P = 0.0005) at the primary analysis (cut-off date: 3rd September 2018). Time to deterioration of EORTC QLQ-PR25 outcomes showed statistically significant delays with darolutamide versus placebo for urinary (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.54-0.76; P < 0.0001) and bowel (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.66-0.92; P = 0.0027) symptoms. Time to worsening of hormonal treatment-related symptoms was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: In patients with nmCRPC who are generally asymptomatic, darolutamide maintained HRQoL by significantly delaying time to deterioration of prostate cancer-specific quality of life and disease-related symptoms versus placebo.

Loss of SNAI2 in Prostate Cancer Correlates With Clinical Response to Androgen Deprivation Therapy.

PURPOSE: Androgen receptor (AR) signaling is important in prostate cancer progression, and therapies that target this pathway have been the mainstay of treatment for advanced disease for over 70 years. Tumors eventually progress despite castration through a number of well-characterized mechanisms; however, little is known about what determines the magnitude of response to short-term pathway inhibition. METHODS: We evaluated a novel combination of AR-targeting therapies (degarelix, abiraterone, and bicalutamide) and noted that the objective patient response to therapy was highly variable. To investigate what was driving treatment resistance in poorly responding patients, as a secondary outcome we comprehensively characterized pre- and post-treatment samples using both whole-genome and RNA sequencing. RESULTS: We find that resistance following short-term treatment differs molecularly from typical progressive castration-resistant disease, associated with transcriptional reprogramming, to a transitional epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype rather than an upregulation of AR signaling. Unexpectedly, tolerance to therapy appears to be the default state, with treatment response correlating with the prevalence of tumor cells deficient for SNAI2, a key regulator of EMT reprogramming. CONCLUSION: We show that EMT characterizes acutely resistant prostate tumors and that deletion of SNAI2, a key transcriptional regulator of EMT, correlates with clinical response.

Does Exist a Differential Impact of Degarelix Versus LHRH Agonists on Cardiovascular Safety? Evidences From Randomized and Real-World Studies.

The main systemic therapy for the management of hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (PC) is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), with the use of long-acting luteinizing hormone releasing-hormone (LHRH) agonists considered the main form of ADT used in clinical practice to obtain castration in PC. The concomitant administration of antiandrogens for the first weeks could reduce the incidence of clinical effects related to the testosterone flare-up in the first injection of LHRH. On the contrary, Gonadotropin Rh (GnRH) antagonists produce a rapid decrease of testosterone levels without the initial flare-up, with degarelix commonly used in clinical practice to induce castration in PC patients. Even if no long-term data are reported in terms of survival to define a superiority of GnRH or LHRH, for oncological efficacy and PC control, data from randomized clinical trials and from real-life experiences, suggest a difference in cardiovascular risk of patients starting ADT. The age-related decline in testosterone levels may represent a factor connected to the increase of cardiovascular disease risk, however, the role of ADT in increasing CV events remains controversial. For these reasons, the aim of the paper is to synthesize the difference in cardiovascular risk between LHRH and degarelix in patients undergoing ADT. A difference in cardiovascular risk could be indeed an important parameter in the evaluation of these two forms of castration therapy. The Randomized trials analyzed in this paper sustain a possible protective role for degarelix versus LHRH agonists in reducing the rate of new CV events and interventions in the short-term period. On the contrary, real-word data are contradictory in different national experiences and are strongly conditioned by huge differences between the LHRH agonists group and the degarelix group.

Toward a Lowest Effective Dose of Cyproterone Acetate in Trans Women: Results From the ENIGI Study.

CONTEXT: Cyproterone acetate (CPA) is a competitive inhibitor of the androgen receptor and exerts negative hypothalamic feedback. It is often used in combination with estrogens in trans women to achieve feminization. However, CPA has been associated with side effects such as changes in liver enzyme concentrations and increases in prolactin concentrations. The question is whether the testosterone-lowering effect, as well as these side effects, are dose dependent. OBJECTIVE: To assess the lowest effective dose of CPA in trans women to prevent side effects. METHODS: This longitudinal study, conducted at gender identity centers in Amsterdam, Ghent, and Florence, is part of the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence (ENIGI), a multicenter prospective cohort study. Participants were trans women (n = 882) using estrogens only or in combination with 10, 25, 50, or 100 mg CPA daily. The primary outcome measure was the concentration of testosterone at 3 and/or 12 months of hormone therapy. RESULTS: Using estrogens only (without CPA) led to testosterone concentrations of 5.5 nmol/L (standard error of the mean [SEM] 0.3). All doses of CPA resulted in testosterone concentrations below the predefined threshold of suppression of 2 nmol/L (10 mg, 0.9 nmol/L, SEM 0.7; 25 mg, 0.9 nmol/L, SEM 0.1; 50mg, 1.1 nmol/L, SEM 0.1; 100 mg, 0.9 nmol/L, SEM 0.7). Higher prolactin and lower high-density lipoprotein concentrations were observed with increasing doses of CPA. No differences in liver enzyme concentrations were found between the doses. CONCLUSION: Compared with higher doses of CPA, a daily dose of 10 mg is equally effective in lowering testosterone concentrations in trans women, while showing fewer side effects.