Abstract
PURPOSE Increases in androgen receptor (AR) copy number (CN) can be detected in plasma DNA when patients develop metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. We aim to evaluate the association between AR CN as a continuous variable and clinical outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS PCR2023 was an international, multi-institution, open-label, phase II study of abiraterone acetate plus prednisolone (AAP) or abiraterone acetate plus dexamethasone that included plasma AR assessment as a predefined exploratory secondary end point. Plasma AR CN data (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01867710) from this study (n = 133) were pooled with data from the following three other cohorts: Cohort A, which was treated with either AAP or enzalutamide (n = 73); the PREMIERE trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02288936) of biomarkers for enzalutamide (n = 94); and a phase II trial from British Columbia (ClinicalTrials. gov identifier: NCT02125357) that randomly assigned men to either AAP or enzalutamide (n = 201). The primary outcome measures for the biomarker analysis were overall survival and progression-free survival. RESULTS Using multivariable fractional polynomials analysis using Cox regression models, a nonlinear relationship between plasma AR CN and outcome was identified for overall survival, where initially for small incremental gains in CN there was a large added hazard ratio that plateaued at higher CN. The CN cut point associated with the highest local hazard ratio was 1.92. A similar nonlinear association was observed with progression-free survival. In an exploratory analysis of PCR2023, the time from start of long-term androgendeprivation therapy to start of AAP or abiraterone acetate plus dexamethasone was significantly shorter in patients with plasma AR CN of 1.92 or greater than patients with plasma AR CN of less than 1.92 (43 v 130 weeks, respectively; P = .005). This was confirmed in cohort A (P = .003), the PREMIERE cohort (P = .03), and the British Colombia cohort (P = .003). CONCLUSION Patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer can be dichotomized by a plasma AR CN cut point of 1.92. Plasma AR CN value of 1.92 or greater identifies aggressive disease that is poorly responsive to AR targeting and is associated with a prior short response to primary androgen-deprivation therapy.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | JCO Precision Oncology |
| Volume | 3 |
| ISSN | 2473-4284 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 24.09.2019 |
Funding
The PCR2023 study was supported by Janssen. The PREMIERE trial was sponsored by the Spanish Oncology Genitourinary Group, which received a grant from Astellas to support the conduct of the trial. The BC Cancer Agency study was supported by Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute Innovation Grant No. 702837 (K.N.C. and A.W.W.), Prostate Cancer Canada through Movember Discovery Grants No. D2015-06 (A.W.W. and K.N.C.) and D2014-13 (K.N.C. and A.W.W.), the Movember Rising Star in Prostate Cancer research program (A.W.W.), the Emil Aaltonen Foundation (M.A.), the Prostate Cancer Foundation (A.W.W. and K.N.C.), Terry Fox New Frontiers Program Project Grant No. TFF116129 (A.W.W. and K.N.C.), and clinical trials funding from Janssen and Astellas. G.A. is supported by a Cancer Research UK Advanced Clinician Scientist Fellowship. A.J. is supported by a Medical Research Council Clinical Research Training Fellowship. V.C. was supported by a European Society of Medical Oncology Translational Clinical Research Fellowship. M.A. is supported by the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation. A.W.W. is supported by Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
DFG Research Classification Scheme
- 2.22-23 Reproductive Medicine, Urology
