The presence of lymph node metastases and time to castration resistance predict the therapeutic effect of enzalutamide for castration-resistant prostate cancer

Int J Clin Oncol. 2023 Mar;28(3):427-435. doi: 10.1007/s10147-022-02288-5. Epub 2022 Dec 29.

Abstract

Background: Enzalutamide is effective against castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, it is unclear which patients would benefit more from enzalutamide treatment. Here, we analyzed patients who received enzalutamide as first-line therapy for CRPC and evaluated the factors that predict treatment response and prognosis.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 101 patients treated with enzalutamide for CRPC at our institution. As primary endpoints we regarded the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response rate and PSA-progression-free survival (PSA-PFS) from the start of enzalutamide treatment. Laboratory and imaging data were analyzed to predict treatment efficacy.

Results: PSA reductions of ≥ 50% and ≥ 90% were observed in 78 (77%) and 47 (47%) patients, respectively, compared with the baseline. During the follow-up period, 67 (66%) patients showed PSA progression, with a median PSA-PFS of 11 months. Moreover, 31 patients (31%) died, with a median overall survival of 64 months. On multivariate analysis, lymph node metastases at the start of enzalutamide treatment [odds ratio (OR) 0.0575, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.0105-0.316, p = 0.0010] and time to CRPC (OR 0.177, 95% CI 0.0428-0.731, p = 0.0167] were associated with ≥ 90% PSA response. Lymph node metastases (hazard ratio [HR] 3.00, 95% CI 1.48-6.09, p = 0.0023) and time to CRPC (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.02-3.30, p = 0.0419) were also predictors of PSA-PFS on a multivariate model.

Conclusions: Time to CRPC and lymph node metastasis were predictors of the PSA response rate and PSA-PFS.

Keywords: Androgen receptor antagonist; Castration-resistant prostate cancer; Enzalutamide; Lymph node metastasis; Progression-free survival; Prostate-specific antigen.

MeSH terms

  • Castration
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Male
  • Nitriles
  • Prostate-Specific Antigen*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant* / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Prostate-Specific Antigen
  • enzalutamide
  • Nitriles

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