New hormone protocol cut relapse risk in prostate cancer trial

Angus reports on the basic research, clinical science, and drug development that may transform survival and quality of life for patients, as well as developments affecting the cancer community. You can reach Angus on Signal at angus.08.

CHICAGO — For patients diagnosed with high-risk prostate cancer that has not metastasized, two main treatment options are typically considered: surgical removal of the prostate or a combination of radiation and hormone therapies. However, new insights from a phase 3 clinical trial suggest that a third option might soon become available. This new approach involves administering hormone therapy both before and after surgical removal of the prostate.

The PROTEUS trial revealed that using two hormone therapies before and after surgery outperformed the use of only one hormone therapy in patients with high-risk, early-stage prostate cancer.

The findings have sparked varied interpretations among prostate cancer specialists. Many experts told STAT that the trial’s results could redefine the standard of care for these patients. Emmanual Antonarakis, a genitourinary medical oncologist at the University of Minnesota, described the trial’s outcome as a “watershed moment” for prostate cancer treatment, as noted in an editorial in the New England Journal of Medicine editorial.

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