2018 Prostate Cancer Clinical Trials Highlights
- SPARTAN Trial (Janssen): Erleada (apalutamide) received FDA approval for non-metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer. This is the first approved treatment of its kind and a great stride for patients battling disease at this stage.
- ARAMIS Trial (Bayer): This trial has posted strong data in 2018 that makes Darolutamide another promising candidate for use in non-metastatic CRPC as well.
- PROSPER Trial (Astellas/Pfizer): Announced results from this phase 3 trial show that Xtandi (enzalutamide) significantly reduces the risk of metastasis or death by 71% in men with non-metastatic CRPC compared to androgen deprivation therapy alone.
- LATTITUDE Trial (Janssen): Patients in this study demonstrated an overall survival benefit with the addition of abiraterone to androgen deprivation therapy when compared to the standard of care in newly diagnosed participants with high-risk metastatic prostate cancer who have not yet received hormone therapy.
- TRITON2 (Clovis): Positive initial data from this trial led to the FDA awarding a breakthrough designation to accelerate the review of Rubraca (rucaparib) for approval in a new use for prostate cancer.
- Enrollment Figures: The ENACT (Astellas/Pfizer) clinical trial enrolled 228 of a target 222 patients, achieving 103% enrollment.
The Number of Living Cancer Survivors is increasing
The National Cancer Institute reports that the number of cancer survivors in the United States is expected to increase to 20.3 million by the year 2026. In fact, the overall cancer death rate in the United States has fallen 26% from 1991-2015. This can be largely attributed to advancements made in modern medicine. These new and improved treatments are made possible by clinical trials and what doctors are able to learn from their results. Cancer is not a death sentence and should not be a taboo subject to discuss. Patients today have more options than ever when it comes to fighting their disease. Learn more about cancer statistics on the
NIH’s website
.
The Importance of Diversity in Clinical Trials
According to a 2017 analysis by the FDA, overall only 7% of clinical trial participants in the United States are African American. This number drops to only 2% enrollment for cancer clinical trials. It is especially important to increase this participation in Prostate Cancer studies due to the vast difference in disease rate between African Americans and all other races. People who benefit from the advances in medicine today are standing on the shoulders of those who participated in clinical trials that made the necessary research available. Participating in a clinical trial not only has the potential to benefit a patient in the short term, but can also uncover information along racial lines that will benefit African American men for years to come.
The Role of Genetic Mutations in Prostate Cancer
Study results presented at the 2018 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium have revealed that more than 12% of men with prostate cancer tested positive for genetic mutations associated with their tumors. The presence of a genetic mutation can help inform treatment decisions and determine if a patient is eligible for treatment with a medicine from the PARP Inhibitor drug class. If a genetic test reveals a patient has mutations to his tumor, he can advise family members to also receive testing that may be able to help them prevent future cancers.
“Ask-in:” The Importance of talking to your Doctor
Often times, clinical trials may be overlooked as a treatment route for patients on their prostate cancer journey. It is important to consider them as a viable option and avenue to receive cutting-edge therapy while under close medical supervision and care. PHEN provides information on featured trials and resources to find other actively recruiting prostate cancer studies to discuss with your doctor. Learn more about clinical trials at
PHENtrials.org
.
