Evaluating biomarkers in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients treated with enzalutamide: PSA, circulating tumor cell counts, AR-V7 status and radiographic progression.

Abstract

e17569 Background: Enzalutamideis ahighly effective treatment in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Although Prostate Cancer Working Group (PCWG) guidelines recommend continuing treatment until radiographic/clinical progression (rPD/cPD), many patients discontinue therapy for rising PSA alone. Methods: We conducted an open label, randomized phase 2 trial in mCRPC patients untreated with docetaxel, abiraterone, or enzalutamide, comparing enzalutamide alone or in combination with PROSTVAC, a therapeutic cancer vaccine designed to induce an anti-tumor immune response. The study discontinued accrual after planned interim analysis indicated no difference in progression between the two arms. Patients were followed beyond 1st of 3 confirmed PSA rises until rPD. 49 patients were analyzed for Circulating Tumor Cell (CTC) count and AR-V7 status at 1st PSA rise and at rPD/cPD or last follow up. Results: 57 patients were enrolled with median follow up time of 55.4 mo. 49/57 (86%) patients had rising PSA; median time to 1st PSA rise for all patients was 6.4 mo (95% CI: 3.7-11.0 mo) after starting enzalutamide. 38/57 (67%) patients had progressive disease (majority with rPD; 1/38 (3%) with cPD); median time to progression for all patients was 23.3 mo (95% CI: 16.1-27.8 mo). 5 patients tested positive for AR-V7 within 30 days of rPD. In patients who experienced rPD/cPD, CTCs were detected in 11/24 (46%) samples taken at rPD vs. in only 3/24 (13%) samples taken at rising PSA. CTC counts were higher at rPD compared to samples taken at rising PSA (P = 0.004, Wilcoxon unpaired test). Of the 7 patients still being treated (median time on drug = 4.2 yrs), 2 experienced rising PSA; however none of the patients had detectable CTCs at a median of 30 days from last follow up. Conclusions: These data suggest that a rising PSA may not be a warning of near-term clinically significant disease progression in mCRPC patients treated with enzalutamide, given the 17-month difference between the first rise in PSA and ultimate rPD/cPD seen in this analysis. Further, CTCs and AR-V7 status associate strongly with rPD but not with rising PSA, adding biological rationale to the hypothesis that CTC counts and AR-V7 status are associated with disease progression. Collectively, these data highlight the need to continue to educate patients and providers on PCWG criteria for progression and appropriately-timed utilization of both therapies and diagnostic tests to maximize drug efficacy in mCRPC. Clinical trial information: NCT01867333 .