Association Between New Unconfirmed Bone Lesions and Outcomes in Men With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Treated With Enzalutamide: Secondary Analysis of the PREVAIL and AFFIRM Randomized Clinical Trials

Andrew J Armstrong 1, Mohammed Al-Adhami 2, Ping Lin 3, Teresa Parli 4, Jennifer Sugg 5, Joyce Steinberg 6, Bertrand Tombal 7, Cora N Sternberg 8, Johann de Bono 9, Howard I Scher 10, Tomasz M Beer 11

Main idea: These results suggest that new unconfirmed lesions detected on follow-up bone scans may represent pseudoprogression in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and are indicative of a favorable treatment response to enzalutamide. The detection of new unconfirmed bone lesions in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer that responded to treatment with enzalutamide after docetaxel appears to be associated with worse overall survival and may represent true progression, thus highlighting the need for improved functional bone metastasis imaging.

Abstract

Importance: For men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) whose condition is responding to enzalutamide, new unconfirmed bone lesions detected at posttreatment scinitigraphy may reflect an osteoblastic reaction that represents healing, known as pseudoprogression, which can lead to premature discontinuation of therapy.

Objective: To determine the association between new unconfirmed lesions detected on a follow-up bone scintigram (bone scan) and outcomes in enzalutamide-treated men with mCRPC.

Results: Among the 643 men (median age, 72 years [range, 43-93 years]) in PREVAIL, early and late unconfirmed lesions were observed in 177 men (27.5%) with stable disease or disease responding to enzalutamide. Among the 404 men (median age, 70 years [range, 41-88 years]) in AFFIRM, early and late unconfirmed lesions were observed in 73 men (18.1%) with stable disease or disease responding to enzalutamide. In PREVAIL, men with new unconfirmed lesions had median radiographic progression-free survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.37 [95% CI, 0.81-2.30]; P = .23) and median overall survival (HR, 1.25 [95% CI, 0.85-1.83]) in the chemotherapy-naive setting similar to men those of men without such new lesions. In AFFIRM, the median overall survival (HR, 1.94 [95% CI, 1.10-3.44]) was reduced among men with unconfirmed bone lesions, but the median radiographic progression-free survival was not reduced (HR, 1.21 [95% CI, 0.83-1.75]; P = .32). Quality of life over time was similar regardless of the presence of new unconfirmed lesions detected on a follow-up bone scan in either setting.

Source NIH