Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust contributes to trial showing hope in extending survival for prostate cancer patients
A major international clinical trial has published findings showing that a new combination of drugs can significantly extend the lives of men with advanced prostate cancer. The TALAPRO-2 trial, which included patients from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT), tested a treatment that could become a new standard of care.
Led locally by Dr John McGrane, Consultant Oncologist, RCHT enrolled five patients into the study between 2019 and 2022. The trial involved over 200 hospitals and cancer centres across 26 countries.
The study looked at men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, a form of the disease that has spread and no longer responds to standard hormone therapy. Patients were given either a combination of two drugs, talazoparib and enzalutamide, or enzalutamide with a placebo.
The results showed that patients who received the new drug combination lived longer without their cancer getting worse, compared to those on the standard treatment. Importantly, the combination also improved overall survival, meaning patients lived longer overall.
The TALAPRO-2 trial was a phase 3 study – the final stage before a treatment can be approved for wider use. The findings support the use of talazoparib and enzalutamide together as a first-line treatment for this group of patients.
Dr John McGrane said
“The TALAPRO-2 trial will hopefully give prostate cancer patients more options as part of their metastatic treatment. We are delighted to have played a role in what will hopefully offer new treatment for patients.”
The Research and Development team gives thanks to all the patients who took part in the trial, as well as to the dedicated staff whose hard work made this important research possible.
It is hoped that the trial drug will be approved as a new standard of care treatment.