A. Oliver Sartor

Prednisone plus cabazitaxel or mitoxantrone for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer progressing after docetaxel treatment : a randomised open-label trial

BACKGROUND Cabazitaxel is a novel tubulin-binding taxane drug with antitumour activity in docetaxel-resistant cancers. We aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of cabazitaxel plus prednisone with those of mitoxantrone plus prednisone in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with progressive disease after docetaxel-based treatment. METHODS We undertook an open-label randomised phase 3 trial in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who had received previous hormone therapy, but whose disease had progressed during or after treatment with a docetaxel-containing regimen. Participants were treated with 10 mg oral prednisone daily, and were randomly assigned to receive either 12 mg/m(2) mitoxantrone intravenously over 15-30 min or 25 mg/m(2) cabazitaxel intravenously over 1 h every 3 weeks. The random allocation schedule was computer-generated; patients and treating physicians were not masked to treatment allocation, but the study team was masked to the data analysis. The primary endpoint was overall survival. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival and safety. Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00417079. FINDINGS 755 men were allocated to treatment groups (377 mitoxantrone, 378 cabazitaxel) and were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. At the cutoff for the final analysis (Sept 25, 2009), median survival was 15·1 months (95% CI 14·1-16·3) in the cabazitaxel group and 12·7 months (11·6-13·7) in the mitoxantrone group. The hazard ratio for death of men treated with cabazitaxel compared with those taking mitoxantrone was 0·70 (95% CI 0·59-0·83, p<0·0001). Median progression-free survival was 2·8 months (95% CI 2·4-3·0) in the cabazitaxel group and 1·4 months (1·4-1·7) in the mitoxantrone group (HR 0·74, 0·64-0·86, p<0·0001). The most common clinically significant grade 3 or higher adverse events were neutropenia (cabazitaxel, 303 [82%] patients vs mitoxantrone, 215 [58%]) and diarrhoea (23 [6%] vs one [<1%]). 28 (8%) patients in the cabazitaxel group and five (1%) in the mitoxantrone group had febrile neutropenia. INTERPRETATION Treatment with cabazitaxel plus prednisone has important clinical antitumour activity, improving overall survival in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer whose disease has progressed during or after docetaxel-based therapy. FUNDING Sanofi-Aventis.

Prostate Specific Antigen Best Practice Statement: 2009 Update

PURPOSE We provide current information on the use of PSA testing for the evaluation of men at risk for prostate cancer, and the risks and benefits of early detection. MATERIALS AND METHODS The report is a summary of the American Urological Association PSA Best Practice Policy 2009. The summary statement is based on a review of the current professional literature, clinical experience and the expert opinions of a multispecialty panel. It is intended to serve as a resource for physicians, other health care professionals, and patients. It does not establish a fixed set of guidelines, define the legal standard of care or pre-empt physician judgment in individual cases. RESULTS There are two notable differences in the current policy. First, the age for obtaining a baseline PSA has been lowered to 40 years. Secondly, the current policy no longer recommends a single, threshold value of PSA, which should prompt prostate biopsy. Rather, the decision to proceed to prostate biopsy should be based primarily on PSA and DRE results, but should take into account multiple factors including free and total PSA, patient age, PSA velocity, PSA density, family history, ethnicity, prior biopsy history and comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS Although recently published trials show different results regarding the impact of prostate cancer screening on mortality, both suggest that prostate cancer screening leads to overdetection and overtreatment of some patients. Therefore, men should be informed of the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening before biopsy and the option of active surveillance in lieu of immediate treatment for certain men diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Biomarkers in the Management and Treatment of Men with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

CONTEXT We have recently witnessed a rapid increase in the number of effective systemic agents for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), including novel hormonal therapies (abiraterone acetate and MDV3100), immunotherapies (sipuleucel-T), chemotherapies (cabazitaxel), and bone microenvironment targeting agents (denosumab, radium 223). Given the increasing complexity of treatment decisions for this disease, major research and clinical priorities are (1) finding biomarkers that enable an understanding of the natural history and complex biology of this heterogeneous malignancy, (2) defining predictive biomarkers that identify men most likely to benefit from a given therapy, and (3) identifying biomarkers of early response or progression to optimize outcomes. OBJECTIVE In this review, we discuss existing and potential biomarkers in CRPC and how they may currently inform prognosis, aid in treatment selection (predictive value), and relate to survival outcomes (surrogacy). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION PubMed-based literature searches and abstracts through September 2011 provided the basis for this literature review as well as expert opinion. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS We address blood and urine-based biomarkers such as prostate-specific antigen, lactate dehydrogenase, total and bone alkaline phosphatase and other bone turnover markers, hemoglobin, and circulating tumor cells in the context of prognosis, prediction, and patient selection for therapy. Given the inherent problems associated with defining progression-free survival in CRPC, the importance of biomarker development and the needed steps are highlighted. We place the discussion of biomarkers within the context of the design/intent of a trial and mechanism of action of a given systemic therapy. We discuss novel biomarker development and the pathway for surrogate or predictive biomarkers to become credentialed as useful tests that inform therapeutic decisions. CONCLUSIONS A greater understanding of biomarkers in CRPC permits a more personalized approach to care that maximizes benefit and minimizes harm and can inform clinical trials tailored to men most likely to derive benefit.

Antiandrogen Withdrawal in Castrate-refractory Prostate Cancer : A Southwest Oncology Group Trial (SWOG 9426)

Antiandrogen withdrawal is a potential therapeutic maneuver for patients with progressive prostate cancer. This study was designed to examine antiandrogen withdrawal effects within the context of a large multi‐institutional prospective trial.

Overall survival benefit and safety profile of radium-223 chloride, a first-in-class alpha-pharmaceutical: Results from a phase III randomized trial (ALSYMPCA) in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with bone metastases.

8 Background: Radium-223 chloride (Ra-223) is a first-in-class alpha-pharmaceutical targeting bone metastases (mets) with high-energy alpha-particles of extremely short range (<100 μm). ALSYMPCA, a phase III, double-blind, randomized, multinational study, compared efficacy, in terms of overall survival (OS), and safety of Ra-223 plus best standard of care (BSC) vs placebo plus BSC in patients (pts) with bone mets in CRPC. METHODS Eligible pts had progressive, symptomatic CRPC with ≥ 2 bone mets on scintigraphy and no known visceral mets; were receiving BSC; and either previously received docetaxel, were docetaxel ineligible, or refused docetaxel. Pts were randomized 2:1 to receive 6 injections of Ra-223 (50 kBq/kg IV) q4 wks or matching placebo and stratified by prior docetaxel use, baseline alkaline phosphatase level, and current bisphosphonate use. A planned interim analysis (IA) was conducted to assess the effect of Ra-223 on the primary endpoint (OS) using a predefined threshold. Survival data were compared using a stratified log-rank test. RESULTS 922 pts (Ra-223, n = 615; placebo, n = 307) were randomized from 6/2008-2/2011. 445 (58%) of 809 pts in the IA data set received prior treatment with docetaxel. Ra-223 significantly improved OS in pts with CRPC with bone mets vs placebo (two-sided P = 0.00185; HR = 0.695; 95% CI, 0.552-0.875; median OS 14.0 mo vs 11.2 mo, respectively). Safety and tolerability of Ra-223 were highly favorable and showed low incidence of myelosuppression (eg, grades 3/4 neutropenia in 1.8% and 0.8% and thrombocytopenia in 4% and 2% of the Ra-223 and placebo groups, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Ra-223 is an effective therapy that improved OS with a highly favorable safety profile, and may provide a new standard of care for the treatment of CRPC pts with bone mets. [Table: see text].

Cabozantinib in Chemotherapy-Pretreated Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Results of a Phase II Nonrandomized Expansion Study

PURPOSE Cabozantinib (XL184), an oral inhibitor of multiple receptor tyrosine kinases such as MET and VEGFR2, was evaluated in a phase II nonrandomized expansion study in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients received open-label cabozantinib at daily starting doses of 100 mg or 40 mg until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was bone scan response, defined as ≥ 30% reduction in bone scan lesion area. Other efficacy end points included overall survival, pain, analgesic use, and biomarkers. RESULTS One hundred forty-four patients sequentially enrolled in either a 100-mg (n = 93) or 40-mg (n = 51) study cohort. Ninety-one patients (63%) had a bone scan response, often by week 6. Treatment resulted in clinically meaningful pain relief (57% of patients) and reduction or discontinuation of narcotic analgesics (55% of patients), as well as improvements in measurable soft tissue disease, circulating tumor cells, and bone biomarkers. Improvements in each of these outcomes were observed in both cohorts: bone scan response in 73% and 45%, respectively; reductions in measurable soft tissue disease in 80% and 79%, respectively. Median overall survival was 10.8 months for the entire population. Most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were fatigue (22%) and hypertension (14%). Fewer dose reductions because of toxicity were required in the 40-mg group. CONCLUSION The evidence suggests that cabozantinib has clinically meaningful activity in CRPC. Cabozantinib resulted in improvements in bone scans, pain, analgesic use, measurable soft tissue disease, circulating tumor cells, and bone biomarkers. Taken together, these phase II observations warrant further development of cabozantinib in prostate cancer.

Updated analysis of the phase III, double-blind, randomized, multinational study of radium-223 chloride in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients with bone metastases (ALSYMPCA)

LBA4512 Background: Radium-223 chloride (Ra-223), a targeted alpha-emitter, targets bone metastases (mets) with high-energy alpha-particles of short range (<100 µm). ALSYMPCA, a phase III double-blind, randomized, multinational study, compared Ra-223 plus best standard of care (BSC) vs placebo plus BSC in CRPC patients (pts) with bone mets. In a planned interim analysis (n = 809), based on 314 events, Ra-223 significantly improved overall survival (OS) vs placebo (median 14.0 mo vs 11.2 mo, respectively; HR = .695; 95% CI, .552-.875; 2-sided p = .00185). Secondary endpoints were met and Ra-223 safety was favorable. An updated analysis was conducted prior to the crossover to further assess the effect of Ra-223 on the primary endpoint (OS), secondary endpoints including skeletal-related events (SREs), and safety. METHODS Eligible pts had confirmed symptomatic CRPC with ≥ 2 bone mets; no known visceral mets; and were post-docetaxel, unfit for docetaxel, or had declined docetaxel. Pts were randomized 2:1 to receive 6 injections of Ra-223 (50 kBq/kg IV) q4wks or matching placebo. An updated descriptive analysis of OS, based on 528 events, was performed including data from all randomized pts prior to implementing crossover to Ra-223 for placebo pts. RESULTS 921 pts (Ra-223, n = 614; placebo, n = 307) were randomized from 6/2008-2/2011. Ra‑223 significantly improved OS vs placebo (median 14.9 mo vs 11.3 mo, respectively; HR = .695; 95% CI, .581-.832; p = 0.00007), and time to first SRE was significantly prolonged (median 15.6 mo vs 9.8 mo, respectively; HR = 0.658; 95% CI, 0.522-0.830; p = 0.00037). Safety and tolerability of Ra-223 remained favorable, with low myelosuppression (e.g., gr 3/4 neutropenia in 2.2% and 0.7% and gr 3/4 thrombocytopenia in 6.3% and 2% of the Ra-223 and placebo groups, respectively). CONCLUSIONS On updated analysis, the median OS benefit for Ra-223 increased from 2.8 to 3.6 months, with a hazard ratio of 0.695 (i.e., 30.5% reduction in risk of death). Ra-223 is an effective therapy that improves OS and time to first SRE with a highly favorable safety profile, and may provide a new standard of care for CRPC pts with bone mets.

Gadolinium-induced nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: the rise and fall of an iatrogenic disease

Background. In 2006, nephrologists in Denmark unexpectedly identified chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with a new syndrome, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). Subsequently, 1603 NSF patients were reported to the Food and Drug Administration. Sixty hospitals in the USA account for 93% of these cases, and two hospitals in Denmark account for 4% of these reports. We review Denmark’s identification and subsequent rapid eradication of NSF. Methods. NSF reports from clinicians, the Danish Medicines Agency (DMA) and gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) manufacturers were reviewed (2002–11). Results. In 1994, the DMA approved a non-ionic linear GBCA, gadodiamide (0.1 mmol/kg), for magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs), with a renal insufficiency contraindication. In 1996, 0.3 mmol/kg dosing received DMA approval. In 1998, the DMA removed renal contraindications. In 1997 and 2002, radiologists at Skejby Hospital and Herlev Hospital, respectively, began performing gadodiamide-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography scans (0.3 mmol/kg) of CKD patients. In 2005, Herlev clinicians requested assistance in evaluating etiological causes of NSF occurring among 10 CKD patients who had developed NSF. This investigation, focusing on infectious agents, was inconclusive. In 2006, Herlev clinicians reported that of 108 CKD patients who had received gadodiamide-enhanced MRI, 20 had developed probable NSF. Herlev radiologists voluntarily discontinued administering gadodiamide to all patients and no new NSF cases at Herlev Hospital developed subsequently. After meeting with Herlev radiologists, Skejby radiologists also discontinued administering gadodiamide to all patients. In 2007, the European Medicines Agency and the DMA contraindicated gadodiamide administration to CKD patients. In 2008, in response to these advisories, radiologists at the other 36 Danish hospitals discontinued administering gadodiamide to all patients, following on practices adopted at Skejby and Herlev Hospitals. In 2009, clinicians at Skejby Hospital reported that a look-back survey identified 33 CKD patients with NSF developing after undergoing GBCA-enhanced MRIs between 1999 and 2007. In 2010, an independent review, commissioned by the Minister of Health, concluded that the DMA had erred in rescinding gadodiamide’s renal insufficiency contraindication in 1998 and that this error was a key factor in the development of NSF in Denmark. In 2011, three NSF cases associated with macrocyclic GBCA-associated NSF and three NSF patients with Stages 3 and 4 CKD disease from Skejby Hospital were reported. Conclusion. A confluence of factors led to the development and eradication of NSF in Denmark.

Radium-223 chloride impact on skeletal-related events in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with bone metastases: A phase III randomized trial (ALSYMPCA).

9 Background: Radium-223 chloride (Ra-223) is a 1st-in-class alpha-pharmaceutical targeting bone metastases (mets) with high-energy alpha-particles of short range (<100 μm). ALSYMPCA, a phase III, double-blind, randomized, multinational study, compared Ra-223 plus best standard of care (BSC) vs placebo (pbo) plus BSC in patients (pts) with bone mets in CRPC. The primary endpoint was OS; secondary endpoints included skeletal-related events (SREs). METHODS Eligible pts had progressive, symptomatic CRPC with ≥ 2 bone mets on scintigraphy and no known visceral mets; were receiving BSC; and either previously received docetaxel, were docetaxel ineligible, or refused docetaxel. Pts were randomized 2:1 to receive 6 injections of Ra-223 (50 kBq/kg IV) q4 wks or matching pbo and stratified by prior docetaxel use, baseline alkaline phosphatase level, and current bisphosphonate use. RESULTS 922 pts (Ra-223, n = 615; pbo, n = 307) were randomized from 6/2008-2/2011. Based on data from a planned interim analysis (n = 809), unblinded June 2011, Ra-223 significantly improved OS in pts with CRPC with bone mets vs pbo (median OS 14.0 vs 11.2 mo, respectively; two-sided P = 0.00185; HR = 0.695; 95% CI, 0.552-0.875). SREs were lower in the Ra-223 vs pbo group, and time to 1st SRE was significantly delayed (median time to SRE 13.6 mo vs 8.4 mo, respectively; P = .00046; HR = .610; 95% CI, .461-.807). CONCLUSIONS Ra-223 significantly delayed time to 1st SRE and SRE components, except surgical intervention. These reductions in SREs, particularly SCC, are noteworthy. Ra-223 is an effective therapy with a highly favorable safety profile and may provide a new standard of care for treatment of CRPC pts with bone mets. [Table: see text].

A Framework for the Identification of Men at Increased Risk for Prostate Cancer

PURPOSE We assessed the risk of prostate cancer over time, and the implications for screening strategies and potential risk reduction approaches to provide a framework for clinical use of this approach concordant with the use of prostate specific antigen as a marker of current prostate cancer risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS A comprehensive review of the relevant literature was performed. In this article the phrase risk of/for prostate cancer refers to the risk of developing prostate cancer. RESULTS Prostate specific antigen is the single most significant predictive factor for identifying men at increased risk for prostate cancer. A suspicious digital rectal examination, a family history of prostate cancer, the presence of high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia or atypical small acinar proliferation and black ethnicity are also important predictive factors, while larger prostate volume and a previous negative biopsy are negative predictors. For men of screening age (50 to 70 years) a prostate specific antigen of greater than 1.5 ng/ml is a marker for greater than average risk up to 8 years (7.5-times greater risk vs 1.5 ng/ml or less). This prostate specific antigen threshold for a man at above average risk can be modified by the presence of other predictive factors. It should be lower for men with a prostate volume less than 40 cc, black ethnicity or a family history of prostate cancer. For younger men with longer followup a lower prostate specific antigen may be considered. CONCLUSIONS The risk of prostate cancer can be estimated in individual men primarily using prostate specific antigen, but also using prostate volume, previous biopsy status, family history and ethnicity. Men at increased risk warrant enhanced surveillance and in the future may also be candidates for active risk reduction strategies.