Dr Sartor on Ongoing Prostate Cancer Research

Oliver Sartor, MD, medical oncologist, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, chair, Genitourinary Cancer Disease Group, director, Radiopharmaceutical Clinical Trials, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses ongoing prostate cancer research, highlighting the importance of considering patient quality of life (QOL).

When assessing prostate cancer trials overall, key factors, such as patients' well-being, functionality, and survival, are crucial, as they directly influence QOL, Sartor begins. Substantial evidence supports the positive impact of radioligand therapy on health-related QOL, he explains. The phase 3 VISION trial (NCT03511664), for instance, has yielded promising results with lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan (Pluvicto; formerly 177Lu-PSMA-617) across various QOL measures in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), as evidenced by the publication of these findings in journals such as Lancet Oncology, Sartor emphasizes.

Similar positive outcomes have been noted with the agent in the phase 3 PSMAfore trial (NCT04689828), particularly in patients with mCRPC who received lutetium Lu 177 vipivotide tetraxetan prior to taxane therapy, Sartor expands. These findings, including those presented at the 2023 ESMO Congress, contribute significantly to the understanding of radioligand therapy's efficacy, he states. Notably, peer-reviewed publications from PSMAfore are awaited along with data from the phase 3 SPLASH trial (NCT04647526) of 177Lu-PNT2002 in patients with mCRPC, which have only been disclosed via press release so far, he elucidates.

The phase 3 ECLIPSE trial (NCT05204927) of 177Lu-PSMA-I&T in patients with mCRPC has yet to present findings, and although the phase 3 PSMAddition trial (NCT04720157) has completed accrual, data are pending, Sartor continues. Moving forward, Sartor says oncologists anticipate insights from these trials to further educate the field on critical end points, such as progression-free survival, QOL responses, prostate-specific membrane antigen response rates, and toxicity levels, with radioligand therapies. There's much anticipation for what lies ahead in this area of research, he concludes.