New Combo Doubles Prostate Cancer Progression Time
A groundbreaking study led by University College London has found that combining two existing treatments can significantly delay the progression of advanced prostate cancer. The trial, published in Nature Medicine and sponsored by Janssen Research & Development, part of Johnson & Johnson, involved 696 men with advanced prostate cancer and focused on patients with specific DNA repair gene mutations, such as BRCA. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the UK, with around a quarter of men with advanced disease having these DNA mutations.
The trial combined niraparib, a PARP inhibitor already used to treat ovarian and fallopian tube cancers, with standard hormone therapy (abiraterone acetate and prednisone). Patients receiving this combination experienced a longer period before their symptoms worsened, effectively doubling the time until symptoms got worse. The combination also cut the risk of cancer growth by 37% across all patients, and among patients with BRCA gene mutations, the risk of tumour progression was reduced by 48%. The study was conducted across 32 countries and involved participants averaging 68 years of age.
Professor Gerhardt Attard, lead author of the study, suggests widespread genomic testing at diagnosis to identify patients who could benefit from targeted treatments. Niraparib is originally developed by Tesaro, Inc., later acquired by GlaxoSmithKline, and is currently sponsored by Janssen Research & Development, LLC., a part of Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson. The company has collaborated with other partners, including Tsinghua University, for studies and research projects.
The combination of niraparib and standard hormone therapy has shown promising results in delaying the progression of advanced prostate cancer. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the potential benefits of this combination for other cancer types. Patients and healthcare providers are advised to stay updated with the latest information from databases like ClinicalTrials.gov for specific studies on this combination.
