Comparison of Abiraterone and Combined Androgen Blockade Therapy for High-Risk Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

This study aimed to compare the effects of abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (AAP) with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) with those of combined androgen blockade (CAB) therapy in patients with high-risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). This study retrospectively identified 163 patients with high-risk mHSPC at Kindai University and affiliated hospitals between January 2014 and December 2020. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to summarize progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to identify the prognostic factors in the overall cohort. Propensity score matching was used to adjust the clinical characteristics, and log-rank test was applied to these propensity score–matched cohorts. Seventy-four patients who received AAP with ADT and 89 patients who received CAB were included in this study. The median follow-up duration was 27 months (range, 2–89 months). The median PFS and OS were not reached by the AAP+ADT group and 15 and 79 months, respectively, in the CAB group. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) score and AAP+ADT were significant prognostic factors for PFS, whereas ECOG PS score, visceral metastasis, and AAP+ADT were significant prognostic factors for OS. The 2-year PFS was 76.1% in the AAP+ADT group and 38.6% in the CAB group (P < 0.0001), and the 2-year OS was 90.2% in the AAP+ADT group and 84.8% in the CAB group (P = 0.015). In conclusion, AAP+ADT had better PFS and OS than CAB in patients with high-risk mHSPC.

Predictive and Prognostic Biomarker Identification in a Large Cohort of Androgen Receptor-Positive Salivary Duct Carcinoma Patients Scheduled for Combined Androgen Blockade

Patients suffering from recurrent or metastatic (R/M) salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) are often treated with combined androgen blockade (CAB). However, CAB frequently fails, resulting in a worse prognosis. Therefore, biomarkers that can predict treatment failure are urgently needed. mRNA from 76 R/M androgen receptor (AR)-positive SDC patients treated with leuprorelin acetate combined with bicalutamide was extracted from pre-treatment tumor specimens. AR, Notch, MAPK, TGFβ, estrogen receptor (ER), Hedgehog (HH), and PI3K signaling pathway activity scores (PAS) were determined based on the expression levels of target genes. Additionally, 5-alpha reductase type 1 (SRD5A1) expression was determined. These markers were related to clinical benefit (complete/partial response or stable disease ≥6 months) and progression-free and overall survival (PFS/OS). SRD5A1 expression had the highest general predictive value for clinical benefit and positive predictive value (PPV: 85.7%). AR PAS had the highest negative predictive value (NPV: 93.3%). The fitting of a multivariable model led to the identification of SRD5A1, TGFβ, and Notch PAS as the most predictive combination. High AR, high Notch, high ER, low HH PAS, and high SRD5A1 expression were also of prognostic importance regarding PFS and SRD5A1 expression levels for OS. AR, Notch PAS, and SRD5A1 expression have the potential to predict the clinical benefit of CAB treatment in SDC patients. SRD5A1 expression can identify patients that will and AR PAS patients that will not experience clinical benefit (85.7% and 93.3% for PPV and NPV, respectively). The predictive potential of SRD5A1 expression forms a rational basis for including SRD5A1-inhibitors in SDC patients’ treatment.

Efficacy of Abiraterone Acetate For High-Risk Hormone-Naïve Metastatic Prostate Cancer: A Comparison With Combined Androgen Blockade Therapy With Bicalutamide And Androgen Deprivation Therapy Alone

Background: The treatment landscape for men with metastatic hormone-naïve prostate cancer (mHNPC) has dramatically changed with the approval of next-generation anti-androgen drugs. We compared the treatment efficacy of abiraterone with that of combined androgen blockade (CAB) therapy and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) alone in men with high-risk mHNPC.Methods: In total, 146 Japanese men with high-risk mHNPC were retrospectively analyzed. As initial hormonal therapy, 30, 83, and 33 men were treated with ADT plus abiraterone (ABI group), ADT plus bicalutamide (CAB group), and ADT alone (ADT group), respectively. Treatment efficacy was compared using time to castration resistance (TTCR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response among the groups. Propensity score matching analysis was also performed to adjust for baseline differences.Results: The median (95% confidence interval [CI]) TTCR in the ABI, CAB, and ADT groups were not reached, 10.7 (7.6–13.8) months and 11.0 (7.9–12.4) months, respectively, and it was significantly longer in the ABI group than in the other groups (p=0.0012, p=0.0008). In propensity score matching analysis, the median TTCR was also significantly longer in the ABI group than in the other groups (hazard ratio [HR], 0.47; 95% CI, 0.22–0.98; p=0.010; HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.12–0.85; p=0.004). The number of men who achieved PSA levels <0.2 ng/mL after propensity score matching were significantly higher in the ABI group than in the other groups.Conclusions: Our results provide important evidence regarding the superiority of abiraterone over CAB therapy and ADT alone for initial treatment for men with newly diagnosed mHNPC.

Androgen receptor signalling inhibitors: post-chemotherapy, pre-chemotherapy and now in castration sensitive prostate cancer

Based on pioneering work by Huggins, Hodges and others, hormonal therapies have been established as an effective approach for advanced prostate cancer (PC) for the past 8 decades. However, it quickly became evident that androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) via surgical or medical castration accomplishes inadequate inhibition of the androgen receptor (AR) axis, with clinical resistance inevitably emerging due to adrenal and intratumoral sources of androgens and other mechanisms. Early efforts to augment ADT by adding adrenal-targeting agents (aminoglutethimide, ketoconazole) or AR antagonists (flutamide, bicalutamide, nilutamide, cyproterone) failed to achieve overall survival (OS) benefits, although they did exhibit some evidence of limited clinical activity. More recently, four new Androgen Receptor Signalling Inhibitors (ARSIs) successfully entered clinical practice. Specifically, the CYP17 inhibitor abiraterone acetate and the 2nd generation AR antagonists (enzalutamide, apalutamide and darolutamide) achieved OS benefits for PC patients, confirmed the importance of reactivated AR signaling in castration-resistant PC and validated important concepts that had been proposed in the field several decades ago but had remained so far unproven, including adrenal-targeted therapy and combined androgen blockade. The past decade has seen steady advances towards more comprehensive AR axis targeting. Now the question is raised whether we have accomplished the maximum AR axis inhibition possible or there is still room for improvement. This review, marking the 80-year anniversary of ADT and 10-year anniversary of successful ARSIs, examines their current clinical use and discusses future directions, in particular combination regimens, to maximize their efficacy, delay emergence of resistance and improve patient outcomes.

Predictive and prognostic biomarker identification in a large cohort of androgen receptor-positive salivary duct carcinoma patients scheduled for combined androgen blockade.

6071 Background: Patients suffering from recurrent or metastatic (R/M) salivary duct carcinoma (SDC) are often treated with combined androgen blockade (CAB). This treatment however frequently fails (response rates: 18-53%), resulting in a worse prognosis. Therefore, biomarkers that have prognostic value and can predict treatment response are urgently needed. Methods: mRNA from 77 R/M androgen receptor (AR) positive SDC patients treated with leuprorelin acetate combined with bicalutamide was extracted from pre-treatment tumor specimens. AR, Notch, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK), Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGFβ), Estrogen Receptor (ER), Hedgehog (HH) and the Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway activities were calculated based on expression levels of relevant target genes. Besides this, 5-alpha reductase type 1 ( SRD5A1) expression and Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2) status were determined. Clinical benefit was defined as complete or partial response or stable disease ≥6 months. Results: Of the 7 signaling pathways, AR pathway activity was the best predictor of clinical benefit (AUC 0.67, 95%-CI 0.54-0.80). At a threshold of 47.8, 21% of the patients tested negative, with a negative predictive value of 93%. SRD5A1 expression outperformed the signaling pathways regarding predictive value (AUC 0.78, 95%-CI 0.67-0.88). Fitting of a multivariable model led to the identification of SRD5A1, Notch and TGFβ as most predictive combination (AUC 0.82, 95%-CI 0.72-0.91). AR, Notch, HH and SRD5A1 were also of prognostic importance regarding progression free survival and SRD5A1 expression levels also for overall survival (median of 175.0 weeks for high versus 96.7 weeks for low expression). Conclusions: Our study revealed predictive and/or prognostic value of AR, HH, Notch and TGFβ signaling activities and SRD5A1 expression in SDC patients treated with CAB. AR pathway activity can be used for identifying non-responders. Further clinical validation is required before implementation of these biomarkers in clinical practice. The observed role of SRD5A1 expression in CAB response forms a rational basis for including SRD5A1-inhibitors in the treatment of SDC patients.[Table: see text]

Case Report: A castration-resistant terminal prostate cancer patient’s survival prolonged after practicing Falun Gong

Background: Most metastatic prostate cancer patients receive combined androgen blockade (CAB) as the mainstay of treatment. Unfortunately, patients ultimately progress to castration resistance. Clinical finding and diagnosis: We describe a man in his eighties who developed stage IV, M1b prostate cancer, multiple (≥5) bone metastases, and required the aid of a walker to ambulate. Without treatment, his treating physician predicted he would survive 6 months. Interventions and outcomes: The patient initially responded well to treatment with CAB, but during the 68-80th week of treatment he developed castration resistance. Bicalutamide was then discontinued. He chose to begin practicing Falun Gong (FLG) at week 89 as an alternative form of care while continuing two doses of leuprolide acetate. His PSA decreased by 86% within five weeks, he walked independently at 17 weeks and bone metastases disappeared in 41-43 weeks after beginning to practice Falun Gong. He also reported better psychosocial functioning. His treating physician assessed that his prostate malignancy was “clinically, under control” and “his overall functional status is excellent.” The patient survived a total of 263 weeks (61.4 months) post-diagnosis, including 183 weeks (42.3 months) after developing castration resistance. Conclusion: This castration-resistant terminal prostate cancer patient gained significant clinical benefits after practicing Falun Gong.