In France, more than one male cancer in four concerns the prostate. If mortality has been falling since the 1990s, researchers have discovered a new molecule resulting from the fight against breast cancer which could further reduce its mortality.
- An international team of researchers has discovered that a molecule used against certain breast cancers has beneficial effects against certain types of prostate cancer.
- This molecule extends the lifespan of patients – metastasized, castrated and not reacting to a latest generation hormonal drug – by an average of 5 months.
- This drug is effective against certain genetic mutations involved in the proliferation of cancer.
Immense hope for men with resistant metastatic prostate cancer despite castration. According to an international study published on September 20 in New England of journal medicineand presented at the congress of the European Society of Oncology, they could see their lifespan extended by taking a molecule intended to fight breast cancer.
In this study, the researchers used olaparib: a molecule that inhibits PARP enzymes applied to women suffering from breast cancer and having a suspected or confirmed deleterious mutation of the BRCA gene. In the same way, scientists believe that this molecule works on men with prostate cancer presenting “qualifying alterations of repair genes by homologous recombination” and whose disease progressed during previous treatment with a new generation hormonal agent.
Very effective against certain genetic mutations
The scientists carried out two studies where two thirds of the patients received the molecule tested, olaparib, and the remaining third the one chosen by their doctor. In the first cohort, they selected 245 patients with at least one alteration of BRCA1, BRCA2 or ATM. In the second group, 142 patients with at least one alteration in one of the other 12 pre-specified genes. Crossover with olaparib was allowed after disease progression based on imaging for patients meeting certain criteria.
Result: olaparib seems to have improved overall survival time in the first group by pushing back the median lifespan from 14.7 months to 19.1 months. In the second study, the median overall survival time was also increased from 11.5 months to 14.1 months with olaparib. During the studies, 66% of control patients received olaparib. According to the researchers, this crossing to olaparib shows risk ratios of death of 0.42 in the first cohort, 0.83 in the second group, or 0.55 in the overall population. Thus this molecule intended to fight certain forms of breast cancer also seems to be more effective than the other drugs currently proposed for certain types of prostate cancer. “This is the first phase 3 study to have evaluated this treatment against this type of cancer and it is also the first to have explored the interest of genetic biomarkers to guide therapeutic choice, as in lung cancer “comments near Science and future Professor Karim Fizazi, co-signer of the study and medical oncologist at the Gustave-Roussy Institute in Villejuif.
In France, 26% of male cancers are prostate cancer. With 71,000 cases detected per year, it is the most common for men and the third deadliest recalls the National Cancer Institute.
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