New Genetic Insights Boost Efficacy of Combination Therapy in Advanced Prostate Cancer

New Genetic Insights Boost Efficacy of Combination Therapy in Advanced Prostate Cancer

(IN BRIEF) Researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research in London have identified genetic markers that predict a significant survival benefit from combining ipatasertib with abiraterone in treating metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. In the phase III IPATential150 trial, patients whose tumors exhibited PTEN loss or alterations in the PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN pathway experienced an increase in median overall survival from 29.2 to 37.1 months. Funded by Roche and led by Professor Johann de Bono, these findings open the door to more personalized and targeted treatment strategies for this aggressive cancer, potentially benefiting thousands of patients in the UK.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 5-Mar-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research in London have uncovered genetic markers that may predict which patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) will benefit from a novel combination therapy. The phase III IPATential150 trial investigated the addition of ipatasertib—an AKT inhibitor—to abiraterone, the current standard treatment. While the overall survival benefit was modest, a closer look at tumour samples revealed that patients with alterations in the PTEN gene or the broader PIK3CA/AKT1/PTEN pathway experienced a significant improvement, with median overall survival rising from 29.2 to 37.1 months.

This breakthrough discovery was made possible by advanced sequencing techniques applied to data from more than 9,300 patients. The research suggests that these genetic signatures create vulnerabilities in cancer cells, offering new targets for drug development and paving the way for more tailored therapies. Funding for the study came from Roche, underscoring the potential of synthetic lethality approaches beyond traditional BRCA-mutated cancers.

Professor Johann de Bono, one of the lead authors of the study, commented on the urgent need for innovative treatments, noting that these findings could eventually benefit around 12,000 UK patients annually. Further research is anticipated to refine these biomarkers and expand the use of combination therapies to other patient groups, ultimately offering hope for improved outcomes in this aggressive cancer subtype.

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SOURCE: The Institute of Cancer Research