Is Triple Therapy the New Standard for Metastatic Hormone-sensitive Prostate Cancer?

Abstract

The treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer has rapidly changed over the last decade. Currently, standard of care (SOC) options for first-line treatment are androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in combination with either docetaxel chemotherapy or an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor such as abiraterone, enzalutamide or apalutamide. Recent results from both the PEACE-1 and ARASENS trials show an overall survival and progression-free survival benefit from the addition of an androgen-receptor pathway inhibitor for patients in whom the SOC option of ADT plus docetaxel has been chosen in de novo metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, with a more pronounced benefit in those with high-volume metastatic disease. However, many clinicians now preferentially use ADT plus an androgen-receptor pathway inhibitor as SOC first-line treatment, and no prospective trial has addressed whether there is a benefit from the addition of docetaxel to this version of SOC combination therapy. The benefit of triplet combination therapy in those with recurrent or low-volume metastatic disease is less clear and longer follow-up is required before conclusions can be drawn about these patient groups.