Dr Kyriakopoulos on Evaluating Biomarkers and Disease Progression with CTC Analysis in CHAARTED2 trial

Christos Kyriakopoulos, MD, of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, discusses findings from 2 correlative studies from the phase 2 CHAARTED2 trial (NCT03419234) investigating cabazitaxel (Jevtana) plus abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) and prednisone in pretreated patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

The prospective, randomized trial enrolled patients with mCRPC who had previously been treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and docetaxel for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. Correlative analyses of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and a sub-study using sodium fluoride PET imaging were conducted to assess disease progression for patients treated in this study, Kyriakopoulos begins. Patients were enrolled to evaluate these biomarkers, but not all participated in the imaging sub-study, which is ongoing, he adds. Future results from this sub-study are anticipated to read out at upcoming meetings.

Kyriakopoulos explains that plasma samples were collected at 3 distinct time points: baseline, mid-treatment, and the end of treatment. These samples aim to provide a longitudinal view of biomarker evolution, he states. The primary goal is to identify dynamic changes in CTCs and potential predictive markers of treatment response and disease progression.

The plasma samples are currently being analyzed, with proposals for further research already developed, he continues. The research team hopes to gain significant insights that could inform future therapeutic strategies and improve patient outcomes, he notes.

Preliminary findings indicate that the analysis of CTCs and NaF PET imaging can provide valuable information about tumor biology and patient-specific responses to treatment, he says. The adverse effects observed were consistent with expectations, and the plasma biomarker analysis is expected to yield critical data, Kyriakopoulos emphasizes.

Overall, Kyriakopoulos states that this research underscores the importance of detailed biomarker studies in advancing personalized medicine in prostate cancer. The incorporation of CTC analysis and NaF PET imaging in the trial highlights the potential for these tools to transform clinical practice by providing deeper insights into treatment efficacy and disease progression. The ongoing analysis and future results will be crucial in optimizing cancer management, he concludes.