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.

Apalutamide radio-sensitisation of prostate cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The combination of radiotherapy with bicalutamide is the standard treatment of prostate cancer patients with high-risk or locally advanced disease. Whether new-generation anti-androgens, like apalutamide, can improve the radio-curability of these patients is an emerging challenge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We comparatively examined the radio-sensitising activity of apalutamide and bicalutamide in hormone-sensitive (22Rv1) and hormone-resistant (PC3, DU145) prostate cancer cell lines. Experiments with xenografts were performed for the 22Rv1 cell line. RESULTS: Radiation dose-response viability and clonogenic assays showed that apalutamide had a stronger radio-sensitising activity for all three cell lines. Confocal imaging for γΗ2Αx showed similar DNA double-strand break repair kinetics for apalutamide and bicalutamide. No difference was noted in the apoptotic pathway. A striking cell death pattern involving nuclear karyorrhexis and cell pyknosis in the G1/S phase was exclusively noted when radiation was combined with apalutamide. In vivo experiments in SCID and R2G2 mice showed significantly higher efficacy of radiotherapy (2 and 4 Gy) when combined with apalutamide, resulting in extensive xenograft necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: In vitro and in vivo experiments support the superiority of apalutamide over bicalutamide in combination with radiotherapy in prostate cancer. Clinical studies are encouraged to show whether replacement of bicalutamide with apalutamide may improve the curability rates.

Peripheral androgen blockade in men with castrate-sensitive biochemical recurrent prostate cancer.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing peripheral androgen blockade in men with biochemical recurrent castrate-sensitive prostate cancer. A registration study to track outcomes of men with biochemical recurrent castrate-sensitive prostate cancer treated with peripheral androgen blockade utilizing concomitant administration of finasteride and bicalutamide. Men were on intermittent peripheral blockade for a median 20.2 months, continuous peripheral blockade for a median 6.8 months, intermittent triple dose peripheral androgen blockade for a median 10.7 months, and continuous triple dose peripheral androgen blockade for 4.4 months before failing therapy. Six men (21%) had additional therapies during treatment that included metastasis-directed therapy (5/37, 14%), systemic Lu-177 (2/37, 5%), and salvage RT (1/37, 3%). The median time to progression, which includes time from initiation through all therapies to the initiation of ADT, was 37.6 months (IQR 20-74.7). From the start of PAB, median time to castrate resistance was 49.8 months (IQR 40.9-NR). After starting ADT, median time to castrate resistance was 8.8 months (IQR 4.6-17.7). Our data support the exploration of PAB as a treatment option in carefully selected patients who present with biochemical recurrence after failure of definitive local therapy for prostate cancer.

Abiraterone acetate versus bicalutamide in combination with gonadotropin releasing hormone antagonist therapy for high risk metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer.

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of abiraterone acetate with that of bicalutamide in combination with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist treatment for patients with high-risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). A total of 149 patients with mHSPC who underwent treatment at our hospital and affiliated hospitals between December 2013 and July 2020 were retrospectively identified. Fifty patients were administered abiraterone acetate (1000 mg/day) plus prednisolone (5 mg/day) with a GnRH antagonist (degarelix) (group A), and 99 patients were administered bicalutamide (80 mg/day) with a GnRH antagonist (group B). The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression-free survival (PSA-PFS) was significantly longer in group A than in group B. Abiraterone acetate therapy and Gleason score were significant independent factors of PSA-PFS. Using propensity score matching, 56 matched patients were obtained. The PSA-PFS (p < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.0071) of patients with high-risk mHSPC were significantly longer in group A of matched patients. Abiraterone acetate therapy and Gleason score were significant independent factors for PSA-PFS in matched patients. The PSA-PFS and OS of patients treated with abiraterone acetate in combination with a GnRH antagonist were significantly better than those treated with bicalutamide.

Clinicopathological Features and Treatment Challenges in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: As the genetic and molecular profiles of triple negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) are elucidated, multiple therapeutic targets have been produced. TNBC with less than 1% androgen receptor (AR) expression may respond to enzalutamide with greater response association in higher levels. A metronomic dose of capecitabine and docetaxel are effective developed drugs for angiogenic process inhibition. We aimed to demonstrate the treatment outcome of triple-negative breast cancer patients in correlation to their clinicopathological features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 80 TNBC patients was conducted. The patients underwent proper observation with the reporting of their treatment and follow-up data. Patients with a metastatic disease, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, follow-up drop or data shortage were excluded from the survival analysis. RESULTS: The study results revealed a significant association between negative androgen expression and younger age ≤35 years, premenopausal status, higher grade, extracapsular extension, lymphovascular invasion, Ki 67, and CA15-3 (p=0.003, 0.02, < 0.001, 0.001, 0.027, 0.005, 0.009 respectively). The three-year overall survival (OS) in patients who received bicalutamide was better than those patients who received capecitabine or docetaxel but of no significance (p=0.46). The three-year disease free survival (DFS) was significantly better in the bicalutamide arm versus the other two groups (p=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that extended adjuvant antiandrogen such as bicalutamide and metronomic capecitabine are well tolerated with accepted compliance and affordability compared to docetaxel and are warranted for problem-solving and better DFS and OS in some TNBC patients.

Failure to achieve castrate level of serum testosterone during luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist therapy in a patient with prostate cancer.

We report the failure to achieve castrate level of serum testosterone during luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist therapy in a patient with prostate cancer. A 76-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of an elevated serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) level (191.10 ng/ml) in August 2011. He was diagnosed with T3aN0M1b prostate adenocarcinoma. A combined androgen blockade using luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (the 1-month depot of leuprorelin acetate) and antiandrogen was administered. Due to liver dysfunction, antiandrogens, both bicalutamide and flutamide, were stopped. The 1-month depot was switched to the 3-month depot in May 2013, but the patient complained of induration and abscess at the infection site. Leuprorelin acetate was replaced by goserelin acetate. Because no adverse event appeared after injection of the 1-month depot of goserelin acetate, the 3-month depot was administered in October 2013. The PSA level increased gradually, and the testosterone level was greater than 50 ng/dl, that is, above castrate range. The 3-month depot of both leuprorelin acetate and goserelin acetate was not effective for this patient. For this reason, the 1-month depot of leuprorelin acetate was started resulting in a rapid decrease in PSA and testosterone levels. Thereafter, androgen depriving therapy could be continued. Androgen deprivation therapy is the standard treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone aims to suppress serum testosterone to castrate range. We recommend assessing the serum testosterone levels during luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist therapy for monitoring treatment efficacy and verifying progression when the PSA level increases.

Combination Chemohormonal Therapy in Metastatic Salivary Duct Carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) is a rare, aggressive head and neck cancer with frequent metastases. Current treatment options for recurrent or metastatic SDC include targeted anti-androgen therapy, HER2-targeted therapy, or systemic chemotherapy. We report the first use of a combination chemohormonal strategy. CASE REPORT A 68-year-old male who had never smoked with a past medical history of two-vessel coronary artery disease and systolic heart failure presented with a parotid mass and underwent surgical resection. Biopsy of the mass revealed high-grade, androgen receptor-positive and Erb-B2 receptor tyrosine kinase-2 (ERBB2)-amplified positive SDC. He subsequently received adjuvant radiation therapy. Four months after completion of adjuvant radiation therapy, recurrence with symptomatic pleural effusion and nodes, hepatic metastases, and boney metastases occurred. Due to significant symptomatic tumor, a rapid treatment response was desired. Combination chemohormonal therapy (CHT) was initiated with carboplatin area under the curve 4 and paclitaxel, 200 mg/m² in 21-day cycles along with combined androgen blockade using leuprolide, 45 mg subcutaneously every 6 months and bicalutamide, 50 mg daily. The treatment was well tolerated with fatigue as the main adverse event. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography at 3 and 6 months after treatment initiation showed good partial response. The patient experienced uveal progression after 8 months and alternate treatment was started. CONCLUSIONS Combination CHT with carboplatin, paclitaxel, and combined androgen deprivation may be a good treatment option in androgen receptor-positive recurrent or metastatic SDC if rapid treatment response is desired. Combination chemotherapy with androgen deprivation for validation through clinical trials.

Multidisciplinary total eradication therapy (TET) in men with newly diagnosed oligometastatic prostate cancer.

To evaluate the outcomes of total eradication therapy (TET), designed to eradicate all sites of visible cancer and micrometastases, in men with newly diagnosed oligometastatic prostate cancer (OMPCa). Men with ≤ 5 sites of metastases were enrolled in a prospective registry study, underwent neoadjuvant chemohormonal therapy, followed by radical prostatectomy, adjuvant radiation (RT) to prostate bed/pelvis, stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to oligometastases, and adjuvant hormonal therapy (HT). When possible, the prostate-specific membrane antigen targeted 18F-DCFPyL PET/CT (18F-DCFPyL) scan was obtained, and abiraterone was added to neoadjuvant HT. Twelve men, median 55 years, ECOG 0, median PSA 14.7 ng/dL, clinical stages M0-1/12 (8%), M1a-3/12 (25%) and M1b-8/12 (67%), were treated. 18F-DCFPyL scan was utilized in 58% of cases. Therapies included prostatectomy 12/12 (100%), neoadjuvant [docetaxel 11/12 (92%), LHRH agonist 12/12 (100%), abiraterone + prednisone 6/12 (50%)], adjuvant radiation [RT 2/12 (17%), RT + SBRT 4/12 (33%), SBRT 6/12 (50%)], and LHRH agonist 12/12 (100%)]. 2/5 (40%) initial patients developed neutropenic fever (NF), while 0/6 (0%) subsequent patients given modified docetaxel dosing developed NF. Otherwise, TET resulted in no additive toxicities. Median follow-up was 48.8 months. Overall survival was 12/12 (100%). 1-, 2-, and 3-year undetectable PSA's were 12/12 (100%), 10/12 (83%) and 8/12 (67%), respectively. Median time to biochemical recurrence was not reached. The outcomes suggest TET in men with newly diagnosed OMPCa is safe, does not appear to cause additive toxicities, and may result in an extended interval of undetectable PSA.

How many bone metastases may be defined as high-volume metastatic prostate cancer in Asians: A retrospective multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Recent landmark randomized trials (CHAARTED and LATITUDE studies) have highlighted potent upfront therapy for "high-volume" and "high-risk" metastatic castration-naïve prostate cancer (mCNPC). However, treatment response shows racial differences. We aimed to propose a novel definition for "high-volume" prostate cancer in Asians. METHODS: We retrospectively pursued 426 patients with de novo mCNPC from multiple institutions between 1999 and 2017. All patients received androgen deprivation therapy alone as initial treatment. We evaluated the number of bone metastases at diagnosis to clarify the clinical significance for progression-free survival and overall survival (OS). Statistical analyses were conducted using the Mann-Whitney U test, Cox proportional hazard models, and Kaplan-Meier methods. RESULTS: Median age and prostate-specific antigen level were 73 years and 266.2 ng/ml, respectively. Median OS was 55.5 months in patients who met the CHAARTED high criteria (vs 33.1 months in the trial). We evaluated 5 thresholds in the number of bone metastases (≥4, ≥6, ≥11, ≥16, and ≥21) to investigate the prognostic values. Patients with ≥11 bone metastases showed the highest HR for OS (2.766). Patients with 11 to 20 bone metastases had a significantly shorter OS than those with ≤10 metastases (P = .0001). We, therefore, proposed modified CHAARTED and LATITUDE high criteria (extending bone metastases ≥11). In multivariate analysis, the modified criteria were the only independent prognostic factors for OS (P = .0272 and P = .042, respectively). Conversely, no significant differences in OS were seen between patients with 1 to 3 bone metastases and 4 to 10 (P = .7513). CONCLUSION: Our exploratory study suggested ≥11 bone metastases as a suitable definition for "high-volume" prostate cancer in Asians. A larger, prospective study is warranted to verify our findings.

Metabolic changes with degarelix vs leuprolide plus bicalutamide in patients with prostate cancer: a randomized clinical study.

PURPOSE: In a mouse model, degarelix generated the least metabolic consequences via low follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels compared with orchiectomy and leuprolide after 4 months of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Here, we comparatively investigated the influence of ADT with degarelix or leuprolide on the development of metabolic syndrome in patients with prostate cancer (PCa). METHODS: Patients with hormone-naive PCa were recruited. Eligible patients were randomized (1:1) to monthly degarelix or monthly leuprolide for 6 months. Key trial variables were monitored monthly. The primary endpoint was changes in fasting blood sugar (FBS). Secondary endpoints were changes in body weight, abdominal circumference, lipid profiles, and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and FSH levels. Computed tomography was performed to measure subcutaneous and visceral fat areas before and after 6 months of ADT. Data were analyzed using the χ2 test, Student's t test, and analysis of variance. RESULTS: From the 100 patients registered, 85 completed the trial (degarelix: 40 patients; leuprolide: 45 patients). Mean increases in FBS did not differ between the two arms. Similarly, there were no differences between the arms in mean increases in body weight, abdominal circumference, lipid profiles, HbA1c, or subcutaneous and visceral fat areas. Follicle-stimulating hormone levels were significantly lower in the degarelix arm than in the leuprolide arm (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lipid and glucose metabolism did not differ significantly between the arms, while FSH levels were significantly lower in the degarelix arm.

Enzalutamide versus flutamide for castration-resistant prostate cancer after combined androgen blockade therapy with bicalutamide: the OCUU-CRPC study.

BACKGROUND: Before the androgen target therapy era, flutamide was widely used for castration-resistant prostate cancer in Japan. Enzalutamide is currently the recommended treatment; however, the efficacy and safety of enzalutamide and flutamide after combined androgen blockade therapy with bicalutamide, has not been compared. METHODS: Patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer who received combined androgen blockade therapy with bicalutamide were randomly assigned to receive either enzalutamide or flutamide. The primary endpoint for efficacy was the 3-month prostate-specific antigen response rate. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02346578) and the University hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000016301). RESULTS: Overall, 103 patients were enrolled. The 3- (80.8% vs. 35.3%; p < 0.001) and 6-month (73.1% vs. 31.4%; p < 0.001) prostate-specific antigen response rates were higher in the enzalutamide than in the flutamide group. The 3-month disease progression rates (radiographic or prostate-specific antigen progression) were 6.4% and 38.8% in the enzalutamide and flutamide groups, respectively [hazard ratio (HR): 0.16; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05-0.47; p < 0.001]; the 6-month rates were 11.4% and 51.1%, respectively (HR 0.22; 95% CI 0.09-0.50; p < 0.001). Enzalutamide provided superior prostate-specific antigen progression-free survival compared with flutamide (HR 0.29; 95% CI 0.15-0.54; p < 0.001). Median time to prostate-specific antigen progression-free survival was not reached and was 6.6 months in the enzalutamide and flutamide groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: As an alternative anti-androgen therapy in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer who fail bicalutamide-combined androgen blockade therapy, enzalutamide provides superior clinical outcomes compared with flutamide. Enzalutamide should be preferred over flutamide in these patients.

A polymeric paste-drug formulation for intratumoral treatment of prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Focal therapy has emerged as a treatment option for low- to intermediate-risk localized prostate cancer (PCa) patients, to balance the risks for urinary and sexual morbidity of radical treatment with the psychological burden of active surveillance. In this context, we developed ST-4PC, an injectable, polymeric paste formulation containing docetaxel (dtx) and bicalutamide (bic) for image-guided focal therapy of PCa. The objective of this work was to evaluate the in vitro characteristics and in vivo toxicity and efficacy of ST-4PC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In vitro drug release was evaluated using high-performance liquid chromatography. In vivo toxicity of blank- and drug-loaded ST-4PC was assessed in mice and rats. Tumor growth inhibition was evaluated in LNCaP subcutaneous (s.c.) and LNCaP-luc orthotopic xenograft models. Using the s.c. model, mice were monitored weekly for weight loss, tumor volume (TV) and serum PSA. For the orthotopic model, mice were additionally monitored for bioluminescence as measure of tumor growth. RESULTS: ST-4PC demonstrated a sustained and steady release of incorporated drugs with 50% dtx and 20% bic being released after 14 days. While no systemic toxicity was observed, dose-dependent local side effects from dtx developed in the s.c. but not in the orthotopic model, illustrating the limitations of s.c. models for evaluating local cytotoxic therapy. In the s.c. model, 0.1%/4% and 0.25%/4% dtx/bic ST-4PC paste significantly reduced PSA progression, but did not have a significant inhibitory effect on TV. ST-4PC loaded with 1%/4% dtx/bic significantly reduced TV, serum PSA, and bioluminescence in the orthotopic xenograft model. Compared with drugs dissolved in DMSO, ST-4PC significantly delayed tumor growth. CONCLUSION: Image-guided focal therapy using ST-4PC demonstrated promising inhibition of PSA progression and orthotopic tumor growth in vivo without significant toxicity, and warrants further clinical evaluation.

Sequential Use of Androgen Receptor Axis-targeted Agents in Chemotherapy-naive Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis With 3-Year Follow-up.

BACKGROUND: There has been no established clinical evidence for using sequential treatment in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Despite evident cross-resistance, androgen receptor axis-targeted agents (ARTAs), namely abiraterone (ABI) and enzalutamide (ENZ), are often used sequentially owing to less toxicity compared with chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A multicenter retrospective review of chemotherapy-naive patients with CRPC who had received ABI followed by ENZ (ABI-to-ENZ) or ENZ followed by ABI (ENZ-to-ABI) was conducted. Combined progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response (≥ 50% PSA decline) to each drug were compared between the 2 groups at the median follow-up of 36.0 months. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in combined PFS (12.4 vs. 10.9 months; hazard ratio [HR], 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.72-1.23; P = .6594) or OS (28.3 vs 29.3 months; HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.66-1.38; P = .8314) between the ABI-to-ENZ and ENZ-to-ABI groups. PSA response rate was not significantly different in first-line ARTAs (48.9% vs. 58.4%; P = .153) but significantly higher in ENZ as a second-line ARTA (40.4% vs. 13.7%; P < .0001). Although multivariate analysis revealed that the ABI-to-ENZ sequence was associated with favorable PFS on second-line ARTA (HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.49-0.85; P = .0019), it was not associated with an increased combined PFS or OS. CONCLUSION: With relatively longer follow-up, ARTA sequence did not affect clinical outcomes of CRPC treatment except for PSA response and PFS on a second-line ARTA. These findings will be useful information in clinical decision-making, particularly in chemotherapy-unfit patients with CRPC.

New sparse implantation technique of I-125 low-dose-rate brachytherapy using concomitant short-term hormonal treatment for low and intermediate-risk prostate cancer: An initial study of therapeutic feasibility.

This study aimed to evaluate the oncological outcomes and post-implantation complications of the concurrent androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with I-125 low-dose-rate (LDR)-prostate brachytherapy (sparse implantation technique: SIT) in comparison with the conventional non-ADT using whole gland brachytherapy (CWT). 302 localized prostate cancer (PCa) patients were treated with CWT (implantation dose: 145 Gy) and 215 patients were treated with SIT, which applied reduced implantation dose of 123.5 Gy. SIT group had ADT consisting of bicalutamide 50 mg/day plus 3-month depot (11.25 mg) of leuprolide acetate subcutaneously on the post-implantation day-0. Post-implantation complications and biochemical-recurrence-free-survival (BCRS) were compared between the two groups. After ADT, SIT group had 40.9% patients (40.9%) with prostate volume reduction between 20-30%. At 3-months post-implantation, SIT group presented significantly better IPSS than CWT group (p = 0.038). Both groups showed decrease in IIEF-5 score at 3-months post-implantation, but ST group showed significantly better mean IIEF-5 scores (13.5) than the CWT group (11.1) (p = 0.045). For 3-months post-implantation dosimetry, both groups showed no significant differences regarding D90 (CWT 156 Gy vs. SIT 152 Gy). CWT group had 3 patients with rectal toxicity ≥radiation therapy oncology group (RTOG) grade 2 and 1 patient with urinary toxicity ≥RTOG grade 2 whereas SIT group had no patient with urinary or rectal toxicity ≥RTOG grade 2. Kaplan-Meier analyses showed no significant differences regarding PCSS were observed between the two groups (p = 0.350). The SIT group showed compatible oncological outcomes to the CWT and relatively smaller number of post-implantation complications within low- and intermediate-risk PCa patients.

Radiotherapy Plus GnRH Analogue Versus High Dose Bicalutamide: A Case Control Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Radiotherapy (RT) with adjuvant hormone therapy (HT) improves prognosis in prostate cancer (PC) patients. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) analogues is the standard HT. High-dose antiandrogen therapy also improves survival in patients with locally advanced PC. The aim of this study was to compare the results of patients treated with RT plus GnRHa and patients treated with RT plus bicalutamide. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Our institutional PC database was used to identify patients treated with definitive or postoperative RT +/- HT which were included in this study. RESULTS: Three hundred and eighteen patients were retrospectively reviewed (median follow-up=56 months). Five-year biochemical relapse-free survival was 85.5% and 88.3% in patients treated with GnRHa and bicalutamide, respectively (p=0.712). CONCLUSION: Bicalutamide may be offered as an adjuvant treatment to RT in patients who refuse GnRHa because of related side effects. Furthermore, our study justifies randomized trials comparing RT plus GnRHa and RT plus bicalutamide.

Aromatase-induced endogenous estrogen promotes tumour metastasis through estrogen receptor-α/matrix metalloproteinase 12 axis activation in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) following androgen deprivation therapy remains a major obstacle advanced prostate cancer management. Aromatase catalyzes estrogen from androgens, yet the role of aromatase-generated endogenous estrogen in CRPC is poorly understood. In this study, we assessed the expression and function of aromatase in CRPC. We found that aromatase expression was significantly increased in CRPC tissues and cell lines. In some prostate cancer cell lines, aromatase was predominantly expressed in CD44+ subsets. Bicalutamide treatment significantly increased aromatase expression, and CYP19A1 expression positively correlated with estrogen responses and epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Aromatase knockdown in PC3 cells reduced invasiveness and decreased metastasis-related gene expression. The aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, attenuated tumour metastasis in castrated PC3-xenograft mice. Mechanistically, aromatase-induced endogenous estrogen promoted estrogen receptor-α (ERα) binding to matrix metalloproteinase 12 (MMP12) promoter estrogen response element (ERE). MMP12 co-localized with CD44 on the cell membrane and MMP12 knockdown significantly reduced estradiol-induced PC3 invasion. Taken together, our findings indicated that increased endogenous estrogen, catalysed by elevated aromatase levels, enhanced MMP12 expression via ERα, participated in CRPC progression and promoted tumour metastasis. Thus, aromatase represents a potential novel therapeutic target for CRPC.

Novel synthetic tosyl chloride-berbamine regresses lethal MYC-positive leukemia by targeting CaMKIIγ/Myc axis.

Proto-oncogene Myc, a key transcription factor, is frequently deregulated in human leukemia with aggressive and poor clinical outcome, but the development of MYC inhibitors remains challenging due to MYC helix-loop-helix topology lacking druggable domains. Here we describe a novel oral active small molecule analog of berbamine, tosyl chloride-berbamine (TCB), that efficiently eliminates MYC-positive leukemia in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, TCB potently reduced MYC protein by inhibiting CaMKIIγ, a critical enzyme that stabilizes MYC protein, and induces apoptosis of MYC-positive leukemia cells. In vivo, oral administration of TCB markedly eliminated lethal MYC-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with well tolerability in orthotopic mouse model. Our studies identify CaMKIIγ/Myc axis as a valid target for developing small molecule-based new therapies for treating MYC-mediated leukemia and demonstrate that TCB is an orally active analog of berbamine that kills MYC-positive leukemia cells.

Neuroprotective effects of zafirlukast, piracetam and their combination on L-Methionine-induced vascular dementia in rats.

Vascular dementia is considered a vascular cognitive impairment disease caused by neuronal degeneration in the brain. Several studies have supported the hypothesis that oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are the main pathogenic factors in vascular dementia. This current study aims to determine the possible neuroprotective effects of zafirlukast, piracetam and the combination of piracetam and zafirlukast on L-methionine-induced vascular dementia in rats. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into five groups. Group I was the normal control, and group II received L-methionine (1700 mg/kg, P.O.) for 32 days. The remaining groups received zafirlukast (20 mg/kg, P.O.), piracetam (600 mg/kg, P.O.) or their combination (zafirlukast 20 mg/kg + piracetam 600 mg/kg, P.O.) for 32 days after L-methionine administration. Afterwards, the cognitive and memory performances of the rats were investigated using the novel object recognition (NOR) test; rats were then sacrificed for histopathological and biochemical analyses. L-methionine-induced vascular dementia altered rats' behaviours and the brain contents of different neurotransmitters and acetylcholinesterase activity while increasing levels of oxidative stress and causing notable histopathological alterations in brain tissues. The treatment of vascular dementia with zafirlukast and the combination improved neurochemical, behavioural and histological alterations to a comparable level to those of piracetam. Thus, zafirlukast, piracetam and the combination of both drugs can be considered as potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of vascular dementia induced by L-methionine. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to explore the neuroprotective effects of zafirlukast and piracetam on L-methionine-induced vascular dementia.