Phase II study of bipolar androgen therapy (BAT) in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and progression on enzalutamide (enza).

Abstract

5017 Background: Androgen receptor (AR) overexpression is a common adaptive resistance mechanism in mCRPC. High dose testosterone in this setting may induce tumor responses and restore normal AR expression. To evaluate BAT, we enrolled men with mCRPC progressing on enza to assess (1) responses to BAT and (2) enza re-challenge after BAT. Methods: Eligible men had minimally symptomatic mCRPC with progression on enza. Subjects received testosterone cypionate 400mg IM every 28d and continued gonadal suppression, until progression. Subjects were evaluated with PSAs each cycle, and CT/bone scans every 3 cycles. Upon progression on BAT, men were re-challenged with enza. The co-primary endpoints were > 50% PSA responses (PSA50) to BAT and PSA50 to enza re-challenge. The null hypothesis was a PSA50 rate of 5% for both endpoints, with alternative hypotheses of 20% to BAT and 25% to enza. 30 subjects were required for 90% and 83% power, respectively, with overall type 1 error of 0.1. Secondary endpoints were safety, objective response, progression-free survival (PFS), and effect on circulating tumor cell-based AR and AR-V7 expression. Results: 30 eligible subjects were accrued (2014-2016). No dose limiting toxicities were seen. 2 subjects had transient pain flares after BAT initiation. Common grade 1-2 adverse events (AE) were musculoskeletal pain (40%), increased hemoglobin (37%), breast tenderness (17%) and rash (17%). 3 Grade 3-4 AE potentially attributable to BAT occurred (pulmonary embolism, NSTEMI, and urinary obstruction). 9/30 men (30% [95% CI: 17-48%]) achieved a PSA50 to BAT. 5/14 men (36%) with measurable disease had an objective response by RECIST 1.1. The median clinical/radiographic PFS on BAT was 8.6 months. 21 subjects proceeded to enza re-challenge, yielding 15 PSA50 responses (54% by intention to treat [95% CI: 34-69%]), with a PFS of 4.8 months. 1/3 AR-V7+ subjects responded to BAT, and all had decreased AR-V7/AR ratios (2 converted to AR-V7-) after 3 cycles. Conclusions: The study met its primary endpoints, demonstrating preliminary efficacy of BAT in men with progressive mCRPC after enza. A randomized study comparing BAT to enza in mCRPC is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT02090114.