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Updated: Jun 2, 2026

A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
PARP and Androgen-Signaling Inhibition plus ADT in Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Neeraj Agarwal1, Nobuaki Matsubara2, Arun A Azad3
1Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City.
Background:
A previous trial involving patients with metastatic prostate cancer that was resistant to androgen pathway modulation (formerly referred to as castration-resistant) showed that adding talazoparib to enzalutamide significantly improved imaging-based progression-free survival and overall survival, with the greatest benefit observed in the cohort with alterations in homologous recombination repair genes.
Methods:
In this ongoing, phase 3, double-blind trial assessing talazoparib in patients with metastatic androgen pathway modulation-sensitive [APMS] prostate cancer harboring alterations in homologous recombination repair genes, we randomly assigned patients in a 1:1 ratio to receive talazoparib at a dose of 0.5 mg plus enzalutamide at a dose of 160 mg once daily (talazoparib group) or placebo plus enzalutamide at a dose of 160 mg once daily (control group). Randomization was stratified according to disease status (new or relapsed), disease volume (high or low), and BRCA (vs. non-BRCA) mutation status. The primary end point was investigator-assessed imaging-based progression-free survival. The key secondary end point was overall survival.
Results:
A total of 300 patients were assigned to the talazoparib group and 299 to the control group. At 3 years, progression-free survival was 77% in the talazoparib group and 56% in the control group (hazard ratio for disease progression or death, 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36 to 0.65; P<0.001). In this interim analysis, overall survival at 3 years was 78% in the talazoparib group and 72% in the control group (hazard ratio for death, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.56 to 1.04). Serious adverse events were reported in 42% and 32% of the patients in the talazoparib group and the control group, respectively. In the talazoparib group, the most common adverse events were anemia, fatigue, and decreased neutrophil count, and the most common event of grade 3 or higher was anemia, reported in 51% of the patients; two treatment-related deaths occurred.
Conclusions:
Talazoparib added to enzalutamide led to significantly better imaging-based progression-free survival than placebo plus enzalutamide among patients with metastatic APMS prostate cancer harboring alterations in homologous recombination repair genes. Serious adverse events were more common with talazoparib plus enzalutamide than with placebo plus enzalutamide. (Funded by Pfizer; TALAPRO-3 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04821622.).
Insights
Adding talazoparib to enzalutamide significantly improved progression-free survival in patients with metastatic prostate cancer harboring DNA repair gene alterations. While overall survival showed a positive trend, increased serious adverse events were noted with talazoparib.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genetics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Previous trials indicated talazoparib plus enzalutamide benefits metastatic prostate cancer patients with specific gene alterations.
- Androgen pathway modulation-resistant prostate cancer (formerly castration-resistant) showed improved outcomes with this combination therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the efficacy and safety of talazoparib combined with enzalutamide in metastatic prostate cancer patients with homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene alterations.
- To evaluate imaging-based progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) as primary and secondary endpoints.
Main Methods:
- Phase 3, double-blind, randomized trial comparing talazoparib plus enzalutamide versus placebo plus enzalutamide.
- Patients with metastatic androgen pathway modulation-sensitive (APMS) prostate cancer and HRR gene alterations were enrolled.
- Stratification by disease status, volume, and BRCA mutation status; primary endpoint was investigator-assessed PFS.
Main Results:
- Talazoparib significantly improved 3-year PFS (77% vs. 56%) and showed a positive trend in 3-year OS (78% vs. 72%).
- Serious adverse events were more frequent in the talazoparib group (42% vs. 32%).
- Anemia was the most common grade 3+ adverse event (51%) in the talazoparib arm; two treatment-related deaths occurred.
Conclusions:
- Talazoparib plus enzalutamide demonstrates superior PFS compared to placebo plus enzalutamide in metastatic APMS prostate cancer with HRR alterations.
- Increased incidence of serious adverse events, particularly anemia, necessitates careful monitoring.
- The combination therapy represents a significant advancement for this patient population.
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