Lang, Joshua M.

Abstract Purpose: Men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) frequently develop resistance to androgen receptor signaling inhibitor (ARSI) treatment; therefore, new therapies are needed. Trophoblastic cell-surface antigen (TROP-2) is a transmembrane protein identified in prostate cancer and overexpressed in multiple malignancies. TROP-2 is a therapeutic target for antibody–drug conjugates (ADC). Experimental Design: TROP-2 gene (TACSTD2) expression and markers of treatment resistance from prostate biopsies were analyzed using data from four previously curated cohorts of mCRPC (n = 634) and the PROMOTE study (dbGaP accession phs001141.v1.p1, n = 88). EPCAM or TROP-2–positive circulating tumor cells (CTC) were captured from peripheral blood for comparison of protein (n = 15) and gene expression signatures of treatment resistance (n = 40). We assessed the efficacy of TROP-2–targeting agents in a mouse xenograft model generated from prostate cancer cell lines. Results: We demonstrated that TACSTD2 is expressed in mCRPC from luminal and basal tumors but at lower levels in patients with neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Patients previously treated with ARSI showed no significant difference in TACSTD2 expression, whereas patients with detectable AR-V7 expression showed increased expression. We observed that TROP-2 can serve as a cell surface target for isolating CTCs, which may serve as a predictive biomarker for ADCs. We also demonstrated that prostate cancer cell line xenografts can be targeted specifically by labeled anti–TROP-2 agents in vivo. Conclusions: These results support further studies on TROP-2 as a therapeutic and diagnostic target for mCRPC.

144 Background: Kinase inhibitors have been ineffective in prostate cancer and have no known role in androgen biosynthesis. Inheritance of the adrenal-permissive HSD3B1(1245C) allele encodes a 3βHSD1 enzyme missense that up-regulates the rate-limiting step of androgen biosynthesis from non-gonadal precursor steroids and confers poor clinical outcomes in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). About half of all men with prostate cancer inherit the adrenal-permissive HSD3B1 allele. Multiple clinical studies demonstrate that adrenal-permissive HSD3B1 allele inheritance confers more rapid progression on ADT and others also suggest worse CRPC outcomes even after treatment with abiraterone or enzalutamide. However, there is no known method to clinically block 3βHSD1. Furthermore, 3βHSD1 is not known to be phosphorylated. Methods: Mass spectrometry was used to identify protein phosphorylation sites and steroid metabolites, genetic and pharmacologic methods were used to identify the kinase required for 3βHSD1 phosphorylation and mouse xenograft studies were performed with BMX inhibition. The identified mechanism was used to design and launch a multicenter phase 2 study of the BMX inhibitor abivertinib in combination with abiraterone in men with metastatic CRPC. Results: 3βHSD1 enzyme activity requires tyrosine phosphorylation at Y344 by the BMX kinase. Androgen biosynthesis is blocked by a phosphorylation-defective 3βHSD1 344F, or BMX genetic knockdown, or BMX pharmacologic inhibition. BMX inhibition using zanubrutinib suppresses CRPC growth in the C4-2 and VCaP xenograft models by blocking intratumoral androgen synthesis and tumor androgen receptor (AR) signaling. Discovery of this mechanism provides the rationale for the phase 2 Maverick trial of abivertinib, a BMX inhibitor, combined with abiraterone, in men with CRPC with adrenal-permissive HSD3B1 allele inheritance (NCT05361915). Eligibility includes 1) presence of metastatic CRPC, 2) measurable and/or non-measurable disease, and 3) confirmed positivity of adrenal-permissive HSD3B1(1245C) allele inheritance via central testing (cap heterozygosity at 50%). Patients will be enrolled in 2 arms: 1) abiraterone naïve (n=45) and 2) abiraterone progressing (n=55). All patients will receive treatment with abivertinib 200mg twice daily with abiraterone 1000mg daily and prednisone 5mg by mouth twice daily. The primary outcome is 6-month radiographic progression-free survival. On-treatment biopsies will be used to inform mechanisms of response and resistance in patients. Conclusions: BMX is required for 3βHSD1 phosphorylation, androgen biosynthesis and CRPC progression with the adrenal-permissive HSD3B1(1245C) allele. The Maverick trial will test clinical proof-of-concept of BMX inhibition in men with adrenal-permissive HSD3B1(1245C) inheritance. Clinical trial information: NCT05361915 .

e21212 Background: Combining local ablative and systemic therapies in patients with oligometastatic NSCLC leads to improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). The potential immunostimulatory effects of ablating all visible disease with SBRT in combination with dual immune checkpoint inhibition has prompted interest, but the toxicity and benefit are unknown. Methods: We conducted a phase Ib study to investigate the safety of SBRT, with doses between 30 and 50 Gy in five fractions to all sites of disease, followed by durvalumab 1500 mg IV in combination with tremelimumab 75 mg IV every 4 weeks x 4 cycles, followed by durvalumab maintenance until progression. Eligible patients had 1-6 extracranial metastatic sites, allowing multiple metastases per location, with all lesions suitable for SBRT, ECOG performance status 0-1, no actionable driver mutation, and no prior immunotherapy. The primary endpoint was safety of this combination. Secondary endpoints include PFS and OS. Dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) (any Grade ≥ 3 toxicity) were evaluated from the first administration of SBRT until 28 days post start of durvalumab and tremelimumab. Baseline tumor mutational burden, PD-L1 expression on post-SBRT biopsy and circulating tumor cells will be correlated with outcomes. In this first cohort analysis, we assess the safety and outcomes of the first 17 patients. Results: From 2/2018-2/2021, the first 17 pts were enrolled. Characteristics of those enrolled included: median age 68 years, female/male 4/13, squamous/non-squamous 2/15, median number of non-central nervous system (CNS) metastatic sites 2 (1-5), median number of non-CNS metastatic lesions 2 (1-9), CNS involvement 6/17 (35.3%), previous treatment 4/17 (23.5%). DLTs were seen in 2/17 (11.8%) patients; DLTs were autoimmune hepatitis and autoimmune pancreatitis. Most treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were grade (G) 1/2. TRAEs included: all TRAEs n = 188, 88.2% (of patients); G 3 n = 17, 29.4%; G 4 n = 1, 5.8%. There were no treatment-related deaths. Five patients discontinued treatment due to grade 3/4 immune related adverse events (IRAE). At a median follow up of 20 months 11/17 (64.7%) patients are alive with 10/17 (58.8%) with no evidence of disease (NED). Six of 17 (35.2%) patients experienced disease progression and 4/17 (23.5%) patients died of disease progression. Median PFS and OS are not yet reached. Conclusions: There were no unexpected safety signals in the cohort of patients enrolled. The incidence of grade ≥ 3 IRAEs is similar to the treatment of advanced NSCLC and no additional toxicity was observed with the addition of SBRT. Clinical outcomes look promising with median OS and PFS not yet reached at 20 months median follow up. The study continues to enroll a second cohort and results will be updated. Clinical trial information: NCT03275597.

TPS4593 Background: Bone metastases are prevalent in approximately 30% of pts with advanced RCC. Pts with bone metastases have a worse prognosis compared to pts without bone metastases and are at risk of symptomatic skeletal events (SSEs). Cabozantinib, a multitargeted inhibitor of multiple kinases, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor and MET, has improved survival in pts with metastatic RCC and has enhanced activity in bone. Ra-223, an alpha-emitting radioisotope with natural bone-seeking proclivity, has been shown to prolong survival in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer. We previously conducted a pilot study of Ra-223 with VEGF inhibition and demonstrated safety and declines in markers of bone formation and resorption with the combination (McKay et al, CCR 2018). Given that decreasing rates of SSEs and improving outcomes for pts with RCC with bone metastases are unmet needs in pts with RCC, we designed a randomized phase 2 study through the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) investigating cabozantinib with or without Ra-223 in patients with RCC with bone metastases. Methods: This is an open-label multicenter study. Eligible pts have metastatic RCC of any histology with ≥2 metastatic bone lesions untreated with prior radiation therapy and no more than 2 prior lines of systemic therapy. Pts with non-clear cell RCC are eligible and will be capped at 20% of the total accrual goal. Pts must have a Karnofsky performance status of ≥60%, have symptomatic bone pain defined as a prior SSE or need of analgesics, and be on osteoclast-targeted therapy unless otherwise contraindicated. Pts are randomized 1:1 to cabozantinib with (Arm A) or without (Arm B) Ra-223. Starting dose of cabozantinib for Arm A is 40 mg by mouth daily to be escalated to 60 mg daily after cycle 1 (1 cycle = 28 days) if no persistent grade 2 or grade ≥3 toxicity. Ra-223 is administered at a fixed dose of 1.49 microcurie/kg IV every 28 days x 6 doses. The primary endpoint is SSE-free survival. Secondary endpoints include safety, progression-free survival, overall survival, quality of life measures, and correlative analyses including liquid biopsy studies and tumor tissue analysis. The study has 90% power to detect an improvement in 6-month SSE-free survival rate from 65% to 78% with one-sided α = 0.025 significance. To ensure 191 evaluable patients, target accrual is 210 pts. This design includes a safety run-in and an interim analysis for futility when 50% of the expected number of events (72 SSE events) have been observed. Final data analysis will occur when 143 events have been observed. The study was activated in December 2019 and accrual is currently ongoing throughout the NCTN. Clinical trial information: NCT04071223.

5060 Background: Tumor-associated calcium signal transducer 2 (TROP-2, TACSTD2) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is highly expressed in many epithelial cancers. Overexpression of TROP-2 is postulated to mediate cancer cell growth, invasion, and is associated with more aggressive disease. TROP-2 has emerged as a therapeutic target for antibody-drug conjugates in clinical trials including sacituzumab govitecan and DS-1062. Here, we evaluated the expression of TROP-2 in tumor biopsies and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in men with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) to evaluate TROP-2 as a clinically relevant target. Methods: RNA-seq data from the SU2C-PCF database and PROMOTE clinical trial (NCT#01953640) was assessed for TACSTD2 and androgen receptor (AR) splice variant ( AR_V7/AR_V9) expression. Prostate cancer ChIP-seq data was analyzed to identify binding of the AR to the TROP-2 promoter. EpCAM and TROP-2 captured CTCs were isolated from patients with mCRPC using the VERSA (Versatile Exclusion-based Rare Sample Analysis) platform and assessed for splice variant, neuroendocrine (NE), and AR-regulated gene signatures, in addition to CTC enumeration and TROP-2 protein expression. Results: TROP-2 expression was detectable in 90% of patients, in both bone and visceral metastatic biopsies (SUC2-PCF). Although TROP-2 low biopsies were infrequent (10%), 58% of these samples showed high levels of NE markers, as compared with 5% in all other patients. In the PROMOTE study, elevated TROP-2 gene expression was significantly higher in biopsies with high AR_V7 expression than in those with low (p = 0.04) or negative (p <.01) AR_V7 expression. ChIP-seq data demonstrated binding of AR at the TROP-2 promoter as well as at a potential enhancer site upstream, suggesting that TROP-2 expression can be regulated by AR activity. Splice variants and NE gene signatures were expressed in CTCs captured with both EpCAM and TROP-2, although markedly different gene expression profiles between EpCAM and TROP-2 CTCs were observed in a subset of patients with neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Detection of AR_V7 from TROP-2 CTCs corresponded to shorter overall survival in 20 patients with mCRPC. TROP-2 protein expression was identified on EpCAM captured CTCs, although patients exhibited a wide degree of both intra- and inter-patient heterogeneity. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that TROP-2 is highly expressed in mCRPC, and is reduced in a subset of patient tumors expressing neuroendocrine markers. In the PROMOTE clinical trial with abiraterone acetate, TROP-2 AR variant expression correlated with increased TROP-2 expression. Binding of the AR to the TROP-2 promoter and potential enhancer was observed in prostate cancer cell lines and biopsies. These results indicate TROP-2 is a high value a biomarker and therapeutic target mCRPC.

The NCCN Guidelines for Prostate Cancer address staging and risk assessment after a prostate cancer diagnosis and include management options for localized, regional, and metastatic disease. Recommendations for disease monitoring and treatment of recurrent disease are also included. The NCCN Prostate Cancer Panel meets annually to reevaluate and update their recommendations based on new clinical data and input from within NCCN Member Institutions and from external entities. This article summarizes the panel’s discussions for the 2021 update of the guidelines with regard to systemic therapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.

The NCCN Guidelines for Prostate Cancer include recommendations regarding diagnosis, risk stratification and workup, treatment options for localized disease, and management of recurrent and advanced disease for clinicians who treat patients with prostate cancer. The portions of the guidelines included herein focus on the roles of germline and somatic genetic testing, risk stratification with nomograms and tumor multigene molecular testing, androgen deprivation therapy, secondary hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy in patients with prostate cancer.

5045 Background: Trophoblastic cell-surface antigen (Trop-2) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that is highly expressed in many solid tumors. Sacituzumab govitecan (IMMU-132) is an antibody-drug conjugate of an anti-Trop-2 humanized antibody with SN-38. Early clinical trials have shown high response rates in a broad range of diseases including triple negative breast and urothelial cancers. We evaluated Trop-2 expression in tumor biopsies and circulating tumor cells (CTCs) from men with mCRPC (metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer). Methods: Trop-2 expression was evaluated from mCRPC biopsies from patients (Pts) treated with abiraterone acetate (AA) on the PROMOTE clinical trial, CTCs from a separate cohort treated with either enzalutamide or AA. Trop-2 CTCs were compared with EpCAM captured CTCs using a microscale technology termed the VERSA (Vertical Exclusion-based Rare Sample Analysis) platform to compare protein and gene expression signatures of resistance to these agents. Results: RNA sequencing identified Trop-2 gene expression in > 70% of metastatic biopsies. The AR splice variant V7 was found in 48 biopsies that also expressed Trop-2. Trop-2 expression was not altered by treatment with AA at 12 weeks. The number of CTCs captured from 25 pts with Trop-2 or EpCAM were closely correlated (R2= 0.84). Gene expression analysis showed similar patterns of expression for the TROP-2 and EPCAM captured cells. AR splice variant expression (AR-V7, AR-V9) in Trop-2 and EpCAM CTCs was detected in 33% of patients. Expression of neuroendocrine markers was identified in 40% of Trop-2 CTCs. Conclusions: Trop-2 is frequently expressed in mCRPC and co-expressed in tumors that express AR splice variants. Trop-2 CTCs are detected in CRPC pts previously treated with AA or Enzalutamide that also express multiple AR splice variants and neuroendocrine markers. The results support Trop-2 expression as predictive biomarker of sensitivity to targeted therapies tumors resistant to AA or Enzalutamide. Men with mCRPC are being enrolled on a Phase I trial with IMMU-132, and multi-site Phase II clinical trial in men who have progressed on AA or Enzalutamide is being finalized.

Abstract Purpose: Androgen receptor (AR) variant AR-V7 is a ligand-independent transcription factor that promotes prostate cancer resistance to AR-targeted therapies. Accordingly, efforts are under way to develop strategies for monitoring and inhibiting AR-V7 in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The purpose of this study was to understand whether other AR variants may be coexpressed with AR-V7 and promote resistance to AR-targeted therapies. Experimental Design: We utilized complementary short- and long-read sequencing of intact AR mRNA isoforms to characterize AR expression in CRPC models. Coexpression of AR-V7 and AR-V9 mRNA in CRPC metastases and circulating tumor cells was assessed by RNA-seq and RT-PCR, respectively. Expression of AR-V9 protein in CRPC models was evaluated with polyclonal antisera. Multivariate analysis was performed to test whether AR variant mRNA expression in metastatic tissues was associated with a 12-week progression-free survival endpoint in a prospective clinical trial of 78 CRPC-stage patients initiating therapy with the androgen synthesis inhibitor, abiraterone acetate. Results: AR-V9 was frequently coexpressed with AR-V7. Both AR variant species were found to share a common 3′ terminal cryptic exon, which rendered AR-V9 susceptible to experimental manipulations that were previously thought to target AR-V7 uniquely. AR-V9 promoted ligand-independent growth of prostate cancer cells. High AR-V9 mRNA expression in CRPC metastases was predictive of primary resistance to abiraterone acetate (HR = 4.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.31–12.2; P = 0.02). Conclusions: AR-V9 may be an important component of therapeutic resistance in CRPC. Clin Cancer Res; 23(16); 4704–15. ©2017 AACR.