Research AppraisalRandomised Controlled Trial

Radiographic Progression With and Without Prostate-Specific Antigen Rise in Patients With Advanced Prostate Cancer Treated With Enzalutamide

Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical OncologyArmstrong, Andrew J, Azad, Arun A, Iguchi, Taro et al.10 May 2026DOI

Clinical Snapshot

85CEBM
Evidence: ModerateRandomised Controlled Trial

PICO Framework

P — PopulationPatients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) and nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC)
I — InterventionEnzalutamide plus androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT)
C — ComparatorADT alone (ARCHES) or placebo plus ADT (PROSPER)
O — OutcomesRadiographic progression with or without PSA rise/progression, overall survival

Bottom Line

This post hoc analysis of 2,551 patients from two phase III trials reveals that enzalutamide treatment significantly increases the likelihood of radiographic progression without corresponding PSA elevation in both mHSPC and nmCRPC. In enzalutamide-treated patients, 25% (ARCHES) and 22% (PROSPER) experienced radiographic progression without PSA rise, compared to only 7% and 4% in control groups respectively. This PSA-imaging discordance was associated with worse overall survival. The findings challenge reliance on PSA monitoring alone and strongly support regular imaging surveillance during enzalutamide therapy. For Australian clinicians, this reinforces the importance of scheduled CT/bone scans as per current guidelines, particularly given enzalutamide's PBS availability. The clinical implication is clear: PSA stability during enzalutamide treatment does not exclude disease progression, making imaging-based monitoring essential for optimal patient management.

Evidence: Moderate

Key Findings

  • P Value: Not provided in abstract

  • Effect Size: 3.4-fold higher rate of radiographic progression without PSA rise in enzalutamide-treated patients (ARCHES), 6.1-fold higher (PROSPER)

  • Primary Outcome: Radiographic progression without PSA rise occurred in 25.3% vs 7.4% (ARCHES) and 21.9% vs 3.6% (PROSPER) of patients with enzalutamide vs control

  • Nnt Or Sensitivity: Number needed to monitor: approximately 6 patients on enzalutamide to detect one case of radiographic progression without PSA rise

  • Confidence Interval: Not provided in abstract

Clinical Application

Highly feasible - requires routine imaging surveillance already standard in Australian oncology practice Enzalutamide is PBS-subsidised for these indications. Results support RACGP and Cancer Council Australia guidelines recommending regular imaging in advanced prostate cancer management Australian patients with mHSPC or nmCRPC receiving enzalutamide through PBS

Abstract

PURPOSE: In patients who received enzalutamide, we characterized the development of radiographic progression (rPD) without prostate-specific antigen (PSA) rise or progression in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) and nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC). METHODS: We conducted a post hoc analysis in two phase III trials (N = 2,551; ARCHES [ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02677896]; PROSPER [ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02003924]) for co-occurrence of rPD ± Prostate Cancer Working Group 2/3-defined PSA progression, and rPD ± any PSA rise from baseline/nadir by treatment. Kaplan-Meier methods were used for overall survival (OS) outcomes. RESULTS: In ARCHES, 3.5% and 8.5% of 574 patients with mHSPC treated with enzalutamide plus androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) had no PSA rise or PSA progression at rPD, respectively. Of 79 patients with rPD who received enzalutamide plus ADT, 25.3% had no PSA rise and 62.0% did not meet PSA progression criteria compared with 7.4% and 38.3% of 188 patients with rPD treated with ADT alone, respectively. In PROSPER, 4.4% and 10.3% of 933 patients with nmCRPC treated with enzalutamide plus ADT had no PSA rise or PSA progression, respectively, at rPD. However, of 187 patients with rPD who received enzalutamide plus ADT, 21.9% had no PSA rise and 51.3% did not meet PSA progression criteria compared with 3.6% and 18.8% of 224 patients treated with placebo/ADT, respectively. Liver metastases were >5-fold higher in enzalutamide-treated patients with rPD events versus control, although sample size was small. Compared with no rPD, enzalutamide-treated patients with rPD ± PSA rise or progression had worse OS. CONCLUSION: Given the frequent discordance and poor prognosis of imaging-based progression in the absence of PSA changes during enzalutamide treatment in mHSPC and nmCRPC, periodic surveillance using imaging is recommended.

References

  1. 1.Armstrong, A. J., Azad, A. A., Iguchi, T., Stenzl, A., Mottet, N., Russell, D., Rosales, M., Haas, G. P., Saad, F., Hussain, M., & Sternberg, C. N. (2026). Radiographic progression with and without prostate-specific antigen rise in patients with advanced prostate cancer treated with enzalutamide. Journal of Clinical Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO-24-02829
Share:XLinkedIn

This content is for educational purposes for healthcare professionals only and does not constitute clinical advice. Clinical decisions should be based on individual patient assessment, current guidelines, and appropriate specialist consultation. Editorial Standards · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service