Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men today, with over one million men around the world facing a diagnosis each year. The standard of care for those with unfavorable intermediate-risk or high-risk localized prostate cancer often involves a surgical procedure known as a radical prostatectomy to remove the prostate gland and some surrounding tissue. While this surgery can be effective, a significant concern remains about cancer recurrence after surgery.
But what if the effectiveness of this surgery was enhanced? What if the amount of cancer at the time of surgery was reduced and the risk of it returning was lowered?
The NePtune study aims to see if this is possible.
The study is specific to patients with a confirmed mutation in any of the following genes: ATM, BARD1, BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, CHEK2, CDK12, FANCA, PALB2, RAD51C, RAD51D or RAD54L2. These mutations compromise the body's ability to repair DNA, allowing cancer to grow more aggressively. Traditionally, these patients undergo surgery without any systemic treatment beforehand.
The goals of the NePtune study are two-fold. First, to see if a drug called olaparib combined with a hormone therapy known as luteinizing hormone-release hormone (LHRH) agonist decreases the amount of disease present when patients with confirmed genetic mutation undergo a radical prostatectomy. (Olaparib is a type of targeted therapy known as a PARP inhibitor, and LHRH agonist is a standard-of-care drug for prostate cancer that stops the production of testosterone.) Second, to determine whether this regimen reduces the risk of the disease returning after surgery.
The desired study result is to keep the cancer inactive for a longer period of time.
The NePtune study could pave the way for more effective treatment options, ultimately leading to better outcomes and improved quality of life for patients facing prostate cancer. The potential benefits of the study extend beyond just the participants; they could help to reshape the landscape of prostate cancer treatment. By investigating the effectiveness of combining olaparib with standard hormone therapy, researchers hope to provide new avenues of hope for men facing this challenging diagnosis.
Learn more about the NePtune study here.