Targeted therapy with Astellas’ Xtandi improves prostate cancer outcomes for Aussie patients: New study

Pharma News: New research from the led by the Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group (ANZUP) has revealed promising results for prostate cancer patients carrying a genetic biomarker linked to poor outcomes.

The ENZAMET study found that personalised hormonal therapy with Astellas’ Xtandi (enzalutamide) can significantly improve survival rates for those with advanced prostate cancer who inherit this genetic marker, offering new hope for those previously facing limited treatment options.

Professor Ian Davis, Medical Oncologist and Professor of Medicine at Monash University and Eastern Health, explained the significance.

“Prostate cancer is a complex disease, and we need to personalise treatments for our patients to get the best outcomes. The ENZAMET (ANZUP 1304) trial has given us clues about how best to do this based on certain genetic tests, allowing more effective treatment that improves outcomes for people who otherwise might not have done so well,” he stated.

The large-scale clinical trial examined a specific gene known as the “adrenal-permissive HSD3B1 allele,” found in approximately 50% of individuals and previously associated with poorer survival rates in prostate cancer patients.

However, the ENZAMET study demonstrated that the drug Xtandi can effectively counteract these adverse effects. After five years, 67% of patients receiving enzalutamide were still alive, compared to 57% of those who underwent standard treatment.

Dr Nima Sharifi, Medical Oncologist and Physician-Scientist at the University of Miami’s Desai Sethi Urology Institute and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Centre, highlighted the importance of these findings.

“We have been studying how this gene drives prostate cancer for over a decade. When we look at the statistics, 50% of people that have this inherited androgen-driving gene are faced with a poor prognosis and with limited treatment options. Our findings show that these poor outcomes can be successfully reversed with specific treatment,” he explained.

“This is a very positive step forward in the understanding of advanced prostate cancer at a clinical level,” Dr Sharifi said. “We need to continue to implement these findings to better focus clinical trials in future so we can develop more targeted and effective therapies that best treat advanced prostate cancer to reduce mortality and improve survival. I am so delighted to work together with ANZUP on this study.”

Prostate cancer remains the most diagnosed cancer among Australian men, with an estimated 26,400 cases expected in 2024 alone. Tragically, around 3,900 deaths are projected in the same year. By 2040, prostate cancer is expected to affect 372,000 men, making it the most prevalent cancer in the country, for both men and women combined.

ANZUP CEO, Associate Professor Samantha Oakes, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to transforming patient care through innovative research.

“Our mission at ANZUP is to improve the lives of people affected by Below the Belt cancers through practice-changing multidisciplinary collaborative clinical trials. With 54 new diagnoses every day, prostate cancer is a major focus.

“The discoveries through the ENZAMET (ANZUP 1304) study continue to pave the way for more effective therapies that can improve survival outcomes for people with advanced prostate cancer,” he stated.

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