A roadmap for future clinical research in advanced prostate cancer: Findings from the Advanced Prostate Cancer...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Urology
• Clinical Trials Research

Background:

• The Advanced Prostate Cancer Conference (APCCC) identifies management areas with limited high-level evidence.
• Consensus was defined as ≥75% agreement among expert panellists at the 2024 APCCC.
• A significant number of questions lacked consensus, indicating persistent evidence gaps in advanced prostate cancer care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify ongoing phase 3 clinical trials addressing areas of non-consensus in advanced prostate cancer management.
• To map research gaps by comparing areas without expert consensus against the current landscape of clinical trials.

Main Methods:

• 120 expert panellists voted on 183 multiple-choice questions prior to the APCCC 2024 conference.
• Consensus was not reached for 143 (78%) of the questions.
• Clinicaltrials.gov and clinicaltrialsregister.eu were searched for relevant ongoing phase 3 trials.

Main Results:

• Numerous ongoing phase 3 trials were identified that could potentially address some identified evidence gaps.
• Several topics lacking expert consensus are not currently being investigated in ongoing clinical trials.
• The findings highlight specific areas where new research is urgently needed.

Conclusions:

• Lack of consensus in advanced prostate cancer care stems from limited evidence, data interpretation differences, or data gaps.
• The high number of non-consensus questions emphasizes the complexity of advanced prostate cancer management and the need for robust evidence.
• Future research directions are highlighted by mapping non-consensus areas against current clinical trial landscapes, with novel targets likely creating new uncertainties.