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Neoadjuvant treatment with androgen receptor signaling inhibitors prior to radical prostatectomy: a systematic review

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Abstract

Context

There is an urgent need to develop novel treatment strategies in patients with unfavorable intermediate- and high-risk localized prostate cancer (PCa) to optimize the outcome of these patients. Androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSI) have demonstrated a survival benefit in metastatic hormonesensitive and castration-resistant PCa. A similar benefit might be expected in the localized setting.

Objective

To perform a systematic review about the role of neoadjuvant ARSI in unfavorable intermediate and high-risk localized PCa.

Evidence acquisition

We performed a systematic review of the following databases: MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science. Publications of ASCO were consulted to identify meeting abstract with early results of ongoing trials. This systematic review was performed and reported in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines.

Evidence synthesis

Pathological complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant ARSI treatment was observed in 4%–13% of the patients. Minimal residual disease response ranged from 36% to 73.9% when defined as residual cancer burden < 0.25 cm3 at final pathology and from 8% to 20% when defined as the diameter of the remaining tumor < 5 mm. Despite intense neoadjuvant ARSI treatment, residual pT3 disease was observed in 48%–76% of the patients. In contrast, positive surgical margins (PSM) were present in only 5%–22%. Only one trial reported BCR following neoadjuvant ARSI therapy (44% BCR at a median follow-up of 4 years).

Conclusion

Despite intense neoadjuvant ARSI therapy, pCR is rarely attained and high proportions of pT3 disease are still observed at final pathology. In contrast, promising results are obtained in terms of PSMs. Long-term survival outcomes are eagerly awaited.

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Acknowledgements

Gaëtan Devos is a PhD fellow of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). Wout Devlies is a recipient of Emmanuel van der Schueren scholarship of “Kom Op Tegen Kanker”. Steven Joniau is a Senior Clinical Investigator of the FWO. The authors wish to thank Thomas Vandendriessche, Kristel Paque and Krizia Tuand, the biomedical reference librarians of the KU Leuven Libraries—2Bergen—learning Centre Désiré Collen (Leuven, Belgium), for their help in conducting the systematic literature search

Funding

This research received no external funding. This research was supported by the ‘Jozef De Wever’ fund for prostate cancer prevention of the KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

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Author notes

  1. Gaëtan Devos and Bram Vansevenant contributed equally and should be considered as first-author.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Gaëtan Devos, Bram Vansevenant, Andries Clinckaert, Wout Devlies, Hendrik Van Poppel & Steven Joniau

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Gert De Meerleer

  3. Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Frank Claessens

  4. Martini-Klinik Prostate Cancer Center, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    Markus Graefen & Thomas Steuber

  5. Division of Oncology, Unit of Urology, Urological Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

    Alberto Briganti

  6. Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, APHP, Henri Mondor Hôpital, Urology, Créteil, France

    Alexandre de la Taille

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  1. Gaëtan Devos
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Contributions

Conceptualization, GD, BV, SJ; writing—original draft preparation, GD, BV, SJ; writing—review and editing, All authors; supervision, SJ; All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Gaëtan Devos.

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Devos, G., Vansevenant, B., De Meerleer, G. et al. Neoadjuvant treatment with androgen receptor signaling inhibitors prior to radical prostatectomy: a systematic review. World J Urol 39, 3177–3185 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-021-03611-x

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