Feasibility study of a randomized controlled trial comparing docetaxel chemotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy with sequential prostatic biopsies from patients with advanced non-castration-resistant prostate cancer

Abiraterone acetate/androgen deprivation therapy combination versus docetaxel/androgen deprivation therapy combination in advanced hormone-sensitive prostate cancer: a network meta-analysis on safety and efficacy

BACKGROUND

A major, yet precisely studied, shift has occurred in the treatment of advanced hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (HSPC) by the addition of docetaxel to androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in the first line. Recently, two landmark trials showed that abiraterone acetate (AA) can be an effective alternative along with ADT in the same setting. We implemented a network meta-analysis to compare the safety and efficacy of the two combinations.

METHODS

PubMed database, ASCO and ESMO meeting library databases of all results published until June 2017 were searched using the keywords: "prostate cancer" AND "docetaxel" OR "abiraterone acetate". Efficacy endpoints including progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and safety endpoints (including treatment related deaths and selected adverse events) were assessed.

RESULTS

Twenty relevant studies were retrieved and assessed for eligibility. Of those trials, eight were found potentially eligible. Inconsistent reporting of efficacy outcomes limited our analysis to M1 HSPC. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) of OS and PFS of the direct comparison of abiraterone acetate plus ADT versus ADT were 0.63 (95% CI: 0.545-0.717) and 0.38 (95% CI: 0.34-0.43), respectively. Meanwhile, in the trials of docetaxel plus ADT the pooled HRs of OS and PFS were 0.75 (95% CI: 0.65-0.86) and 0.634 (95% CI: 0.57-0.70), respectively. The indirect comparison showed that the HRs of OS and PFS in DOC + ADT in comparison to AA + ADT were 1.2 (95% CI: 0.98-1.46) and 1.65 (1.40-1.94), respectively. The pooled RR of treatment-related mortality in docetaxel + ADT versus AA + ADT was 1.438 (95% CI: 0.508-4.075).

CONCLUSION

Patients with metastatic HSPC (mHSPC) who received abiraterone acetate with ADT had better PFS and less toxicity compared to those receiving docetaxel with ADT. A trend towards superior OS and fewer treatment-related deaths was also observed, but was statistically non-significant. In view of lacking clear OS advantage, the choice between docetaxel and AA should include a discussion with the patient about the potential toxicities and impact on quality of life of each regimen.

Efficacy and Safety of Combined Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) and Docetaxel Compared with ADT Alone for Metastatic Hormone-Naive Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

OBJECTIVE

Prostate cancer is the most common nonskin cancer and second most common cause of cancer mortality in older men in the United States (USA) and Western Europe. Androgen-deprivation therapy alone (ADT) remains the first line of treatment in most cases, for metastatic disease. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials (RCT) that compared the efficacy and adverse events profile of a chemohormonal therapy (ADT ± docetaxel) for metastatic hormone-naive prostate cancer (mHNPC).

METHODS

Several databases were searched, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, and CENTRAL. The primary endpoint was overall survival. Data extracted from the studies were combined by using the hazard ratio (HR) or risk ratio (RR) with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI).

RESULTS

The final analysis included 3 trials comprising 2,264 patients (mHNPC). Patients who received the chemohormonal therapy had a longer clinical progression-free survival interval (HR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.75; p<0.00001), and no heterogeneity (Chi2 = 0.64; df = 1 [p = 0.42]; I2 = 0%). The biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS) also was higher in patients treated with ADT plus docetaxel (HR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.69; p<0.00001), also with no heterogeneity noted (Chi2 = 0.48; df = 2 [p = 0.79]; I2 = 0%). Finally, the combination of ADT with docetaxel showed a superior overall survival (OS) compared with ADT alone (HR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.64 to 0.84; p<0.0001), with moderate heterogeneity (Chi2 = 3.84; df = 2 [p = 0.15]; I2 = 48%). A random-effects model analysis was performed, and the results remained favorable to the use of ADT plus docetaxel (HR = 0.73; 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.89; p = 0.002). In the final combined analysis of the high-volume disease patients, the use of the combination therapy also favored an increased overall survival (HR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.54 to 0.83; p = 0.0003). Regarding adverse events and severe toxicity (grade ≥3), the group receiving the combined therapy had higher rates of neutropenia, febrile neutropenia and fatigue.

CONCLUSION

The combination of ADT with docetaxel improved the clinical progression-free survival, bPFS and OS of patients with mHNPC. A superior OS was seen especially for patients with metastatic and high-volume disease. This contemporary combination therapy may now be offered as a first-line treatment for selected patients.

Novel roles of androgen receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, TP53, regulatory RNAs, NF-kappa-B, chromosomal translocations, neutrophil associated gelatinase, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in prostate cancer and prostate cancer stem cells

Approximately one in six men will be diagnosed with some form of prostate cancer in their lifetime. Over 250,000 men worldwide die annually due to complications from prostate cancer. While advancements in prostate cancer screening and therapies have helped in lowering this statistic, better tests and more effective therapies are still needed. This review will summarize the novel roles of the androgen receptor (AR), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the EGFRvIII variant, TP53, long-non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRs), NF-kappa-B, chromosomal translocations, neutrophil associated gelatinase, (NGAL), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), the tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells (CSC) have on the diagnosis, development and treatment of prostate cancer.