A novel combination of well-known drugs may prolong survival in patients with prostate cancer, according to late-breaking research presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2021. The PEACE-1 and STAMPEDE studies found that the addition of abiraterone acetate plus prednisolone to standard therapy lengthened survival compared to standard therapy alone.

In a validation study with data presented at the American Urological Association’s 2021 Annual Meeting, clinician-researchers reported that a new test may be able to detect and risk-classify prostate cancer at the molecular level with predictive accuracy based on a single urine sample. The data were reported in a late-breaking abstract presented by Laurence Klotz, MD, FRCSC. This validation study follows and confirms the positive data on more than 1,400 patients published by Wang et al in The Journal of Urology in September 2020.

Despite great strides in prostate cancer treatment over the past several years, racial disparities in care persist, according to new data presented during the 2021 Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA). Three studies highlighting this topic were presented during a virtual press session.

As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Chi et al the prespecified final overall survival analysis of the phase III TITAN trial has confirmed a clear overall survival and radiographic progression-free survival benefit with the combination of apalutamide and androgen-deprivation therapy vs placebo plus androgen-deprivation therapy in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer.

Based on the findings of the phase III VISION trial, reported by Sartor et al and summarized in this issue of The ASCO Post, lutetium-177–PSMA-617 (LuPSMA) is the first of the prostate-specific membrane antigen–targeted cancer theranostics to demonstrate a survival-prolonging benefit for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The treatment options currently available for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who have experienced disease progression despite an androgen receptor (AR)-signaling inhibitor, docetaxel, and cabazitaxel are limited by cross-resistance (alternate AR-signaling inhibitor) and low anticancer response rates (radium-223). Owing to its robust anticancer activity, new mechanism of action, and excellent tolerability, LuPSMA is poised to become the preferred treatment for prostate cancer that is refractory to AR-signaling inhibitors and taxanes.