Dr. Scher on Key Findings From the COU-AA-302 Trial

Howard I. Scher, MD, Chief of the Genitourinary Oncology Service at the Sidney Kimmel Center for Prostate and Urologic Cancers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, discusses an updated analysis of the COU-AA-302 trial, which examined treatment with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) prior to the administration of chemotherapy.

This trial reported several important findings, Scher believes. First, he states, the trial established that a hormonal agent is capable of delaying time to progression and potentially could improve survival in men with mCRPC. Additionally, the trial established an important new endpoint for clinical trials in mCRPC through the validation of radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS).

This endpoint was established through the application of predefined assays that standardized the interpretation of bone scans. In the trial, a correlation between rPFS and overall survival was observed in a reproducible and consistent fashion. This endpoint will serve as a useful tool in future trials, Scher notes, especially for comparing agents and in trials seeking regulatory approval.