VIDEO: Differentiations in therapies for prostate cancer can be 'real gamechanger'

CHICAGO — In this Healio video exclusive, Edwin M. Posadas, MD, FACP, discusses the redifferentiation of prostate cancer by using a humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits CD105-mediated signaling.

When presented at  ASCO Annual Meeting, Posadas, medical director of the urologic oncology program of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, discussed the poor outcomes in patients with prostate cancer associated with CD105 (endoglin).

“What we believe is possible is by using a monoclonal antibody targeted against CD105, we can actually redifferentiate prostate cancer,” Posadas said. “This is particularly interesting scientifically because this antibody against CD105 negatively regulates TGF beta signaling while positively regulating PNP signaling,” Posadas continued.

This randomized phase 2 study was open to men with metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer who have progressed on previous AR signaling inhibitor (ARSI) therapy. The study included ten patients on combination therapy based on previous work with carotuximab with other ARSI.

“By using this particular combination, what we can actually do is lower the expression of the splice variant AR-V7, which has been known to accompany resistance in prostate cancer and again force differentiation forward,” Posadas said. “If we can use these types of differentiations in prostate cancer similar to what’s been done for leukemia, it would be a real gamechanger for the field.”

Posadas E, et al. A randomized phase II study of apalutamide with or without carotuximab (ant-CD105) in metastatic, castration-resistant prostate cancer. Presented at: ASCO Annual Meeting; June 2-6, 2023; Chicago.