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A New Combination Therapy Regimen Shows Promising Results for Prostate Cancer

Read Time: 2 minutes

Neeraj Agarwal, MD, FASCO
Neeraj Agarwal, MD, FASCO

TALAPRO-2, a study led by Neeraj Agarwal, MD, FASCO, demonstrated that using TALZENNA, in combination with XTANDI, may reduce the risk of disease progression or death by 37%.

Agarwal, Presidential Endowed Chair of Cancer Research at Huntsman Cancer Institute, presented the results of one of his many Phase III trials at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Genitourinary Cancers Symposium last month.

According to the National Cancer Institute, prostate cancer is the most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. Castration-resistant prostate cancer, or CRPC, is a late state of prostate cancer that continues to grow despite androgen blockade. 

TALAPRO-2 combines two oral medications, TALZENNA and XTANDI, to treat metastatic prostate cancer. The trial looks at the effectiveness of adding TALZENNA to the standard treatment of XTANDI, an androgen receptor blocker that prevents male hormones from feeding the cancer. TALZENNA is a PARP inhibitor typically used to treat breast cancer. 

During the global study, the treatment plan for each of the participants was randomly selected. Some received the combination of the two drugs, while others received the standard treatment of XTANDI and a placebo pill. Huntsman Cancer Institute’s clinical trials team played a critical role in the monitoring of participants enrolled at the institute. The comparison of side effects and results between the two groups is a key feature of all Phase III trials.

“As a physician, I want my patients to be able to enjoy life while being treated for cancer,” says Agarwal. "Clinical trials help us find better cancer treatments with fewer side effects. Those who are impacted by cancer can have hope that their treatment is constantly improving.”

Phase III trials are the last phase before the FDA can approve a new treatment. The FDA decision on this investigatory drug combination is expected in 2023.

Huntsman Cancer Institute is home to over 200 clinical trials. At any given time, 250 research teams are learning more about cancer, its origins, and how to prevent and treat cancer. To learn more about clinical trials, contact the Cancer Learning Center.

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Heather Simonsen
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Huntsman Cancer Institute
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About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah

Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah (the U) is the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming. With a legacy of innovative cancer research, groundbreaking discoveries, and world-class patient care, we are transforming the way cancer is understood, prevented, diagnosed, treated, and survived. Huntsman Cancer Institute focuses on delivering a cancer-free frontier to all communities in the area we serve. We have more than 300 open clinical trials and 250 research teams studying cancer at any given time. More genes for inherited cancers have been discovered at Huntsman Cancer Institute than at any other cancer center. Our scientists are world-renowned for understanding how cancer begins and using that knowledge to develop innovative approaches to treat each patient’s unique disease. Huntsman Cancer Institute was founded by Jon M. and Karen Huntsman.

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