A groundbreaking Australian clinical trial has revealed that a new combination of therapies could significantly slow the progression of advanced prostate cancers. The EVOLUTION Phase II Clinical Trial discovered that combining the radiopharmaceutical Lutetium-177-PSMA (LuPSMA) with immunotherapy agents nivolumab and ipilimumab is more effective in slowing cancer spread than using LuPSMA alone.
The trial was spearheaded by the Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group (ANZUP) in collaboration with the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre at the University of Sydney, with co-funding from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. After one year, 33 percent of patients receiving the combination treatment remained progression-free, based on their Prostate Specific Antigen levels, compared to just 17 percent of those treated with LuPSMA alone.
Innovative Treatment Approach
Lead investigator and Medical Oncologist, Professor Shahneen Sandhu, expressed optimism about the trial’s results, suggesting they could mark a significant advancement in treating advanced prostate cancer. “We are pushing the needle in terms of developing new treatment options for the deadliest forms of prostate cancer,” said Prof. Sandhu. “Importantly, the translational research that follows will help us identify which patients are most likely to benefit from this combination therapy.”
Professor Sandhu highlighted the historical context of the research, noting that nearly a decade ago, targeted radiation therapy LuPSMA was identified as an effective treatment for advanced prostate cancer. Despite its success in slowing disease progression and improving quality of life, many patients still experience disease progression while on LuPSMA, necessitating continued research to overcome treatment resistance.
Hope for Advanced Prostate Cancer
The EVOLUTION Phase II Clinical Trial represents a significant step forward by integrating two immunotherapy drugs with LuPSMA. Until now, immunotherapy had not shown significant efficacy for prostate cancer, but the trial demonstrated that adding nuclear medicine treatment can enhance immunotherapy’s effectiveness, offering new hope for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
Anne Savage, CEO of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, welcomed the findings. “Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with more than 26,000 men diagnosed each year,” she stated. “It’s estimated that around 10-20 percent of men diagnosed will develop metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, one of the most challenging forms to treat. Findings from the EVOLUTION Trial provide new hope for improved outcomes and have the potential to save the lives of nearly 4,000 Australian men who die from the disease each year.”
Global Implications and Future Research
ANZUP CEO, Adjunct Professor Samantha Oakes, emphasized the global significance of the trial, noting it was the first in the world to test this specific combination of treatments. “Without a doubt, these findings have the potential to transform how we treat a subset of people with advanced prostate cancer,” she said. “We have seen an enormous improvement in survival rates for those diagnosed with prostate cancer over the years, thanks to ongoing donations towards medical research, but we still have a way to go yet.”
Adj. Prof. Oakes added that researchers are now focused on understanding why some patients respond to the treatment while others do not, with the aim of refining and personalizing future therapies. “Clinical trials and new treatments like this will continue to change the future and save many more lives,” she concluded.
Prostate cancer remains a significant health challenge globally, but breakthroughs like the EVOLUTION Trial offer a glimpse of hope for more effective treatments and improved patient outcomes.
As researchers continue to explore the potential of combination therapies, the medical community remains hopeful that these efforts will lead to more personalized and effective treatment strategies for prostate cancer patients worldwide.
