Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2025
Retzius-Sparing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
Published on: May 19, 2022
Olaparib Without Androgen Deprivation for High-Risk Biochemically Recurrent Prostate Cancer Following Prostatectomy:
Catherine H Marshall1, Benjamin A Teply2, Jiayun Lu1
1Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Importance:
Olaparib is a poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase inhibitor that provides benefit in combination with hormonal therapies in patients with metastatic prostate cancer who harbor homologous recombination repair (HRR) alterations. Its efficacy in the absence of androgen deprivation therapy has not been tested.
Objective:
To determine the activity of olaparib monotherapy among patients with high-risk biochemically recurrent (BCR) prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy.
Design, Setting, And Participants:
This phase 2, single-arm nonrandomized controlled trial enrolled genetically unselected patients across 4 sites in the US from May 2017 to November 2022. Eligible patients had BCR disease following radical prostatectomy, a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time of 6 months or shorter, an absolute PSA value of 1.0 ng/mL or higher, and a testosterone level of 150 ng/dL or higher.
Intervention:
Treatment was with olaparib, 300 mg, by mouth twice daily until doubling of the baseline PSA, clinical or radiographic progression, or unacceptable toxic effects.
Main Outcome And Measure:
The primary end point was a confirmed 50% or higher decline in PSA from baseline (PSA50). Key secondary end points were outcomes by HRR alteration status, as well as safety and tolerability.
Results:
Of the 51 male patients enrolled (mean [SD] age, 63.8 [6.8] years), 13 participants (26%) had a PSA50 response, all within the HRR-positive group (13 of 27 participants [48%]). All 11 participants with BRCA2 alterations experienced a PSA50 response. Common adverse events were fatigue in 32 participants (63%), nausea in 28 (55%), and leukopenia in 22 (43%), and were consistent with known adverse effects of olaparib.
Conclusions And Relevance:
In this nonrandomized controlled trial, olaparib monotherapy led to high and durable PSA50 response rates in patients with BRCA2 alterations. Olaparib warrants further study as a treatment strategy for some patients with BCR prostate cancer but does not have sufficient activity in those without HRR alterations and should not be considered for those patients.
Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03047135.
Insights
Olaparib monotherapy showed significant prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline in men with BRCA2-altered prostate cancer. However, it was ineffective for those without homologous recombination repair (HRR) alterations.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genitourinary Cancer
- Prostate Cancer Therapeutics
Background:
- Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, is effective with hormonal therapy for metastatic prostate cancer with HRR alterations.
- Its efficacy as monotherapy without androgen deprivation therapy is unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate olaparib monotherapy's activity in high-risk biochemically recurrent (BCR) prostate cancer post-prostatectomy.
Main Methods:
- Phase 2, single-arm trial of olaparib (300 mg twice daily) in 51 patients with BCR prostate cancer.
- Primary endpoint: 50% PSA decline (PSA50). Secondary endpoints: HRR alteration status, safety.
Main Results:
- 13 of 51 participants (26%) achieved PSA50 response.
- All 13 responders had HRR-positive tumors, including all 11 with BRCA2 alterations (48% response rate).
- Common adverse events included fatigue (63%), nausea (55%), and leukopenia (43%).
Conclusions:
- Olaparib monotherapy demonstrated high, durable PSA50 response rates in patients with BRCA2-altered BCR prostate cancer.
- Olaparib may be a treatment option for select patients with HRR alterations but lacks efficacy in those without.
- Further study is warranted for HRR-altered prostate cancer patients.
