Androgen Deprivation Therapy for High Blood Pressure in Prostate Cancer Patients

(ARCH Trial)

Overseen by Matthew Babcock, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Male

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Phase 4

Recruiting

Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver

Must be taking: GnRH agonist, AR inhibitor

Must not be taking: Antihypertensives, Lipid-lowering, Antioxidants, Corticosteroids

Disqualifiers: Liver, Kidney, Cardiac, Diabetes, others

Prior Safety Data

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to understand why men with prostate cancer who are treated with ADT have a higher risk of heart disease. Researchers will look at whether ADT affects the nervous system or kidneys, which help control blood pressure. The goal is to find ways to prevent heart disease in these patients. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been used for prostate cancer treatment but is associated with increased cardiovascular risks.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

Yes, you will need to stop taking certain medications, such as antihypertensives, lipid-lowering medications, antioxidant vitamins, corticosteroids, and anti-inflammatory medications, for four weeks before the study starts.

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) for high blood pressure in prostate cancer patients?

The research shows that drugs like goserelin and leuprolide, which are part of ADT, are effective in reducing testosterone levels in prostate cancer patients, which is crucial for managing the disease. However, there is no direct evidence in the provided research about their effectiveness specifically for high blood pressure. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) safe for humans?

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) for prostate cancer, which includes treatments like GnRH agonists and antagonists, has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, GnRH antagonists may have a lower risk of these events compared to GnRH agonists, making them potentially safer for patients with heart concerns. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

How is the drug Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) unique for treating high blood pressure in prostate cancer patients?

Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) using GnRH antagonists like abarelix and degarelix is unique because it rapidly reduces testosterone levels without causing an initial surge, unlike GnRH agonists, which can temporarily increase testosterone and potentially worsen cancer activity. This rapid suppression may be beneficial for patients with cardiovascular concerns, as it avoids the initial testosterone flare associated with increased cardiovascular risk. ^{1 3 5 8 9}

Research Team

Matthew Babcock, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Colorado, Denver

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for men aged 40+ with normal blood pressure and testosterone levels, who are either healthy or have non-metastatic prostate cancer planning to undergo ADT. Participants should not smoke, take certain medications, or have diabetes, severe kidney disease, heart conditions, nervous system diseases, high Gleason scores (≥8), or thyroid dysfunction.

Inclusion Criteria

Your blood pressure should not be lower than 140/90 mmHg when measured at rest.

Your blood sugar level should be below 126 mg/dL after fasting.

My prostate cancer has a Gleason score of 7 or less.

Exclusion Criteria

I have a current liver condition.

I have kidney issues with high creatinine and protein in my urine.

I have diabetes, an ongoing infection, or a nervous system condition.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo androgen deprivation therapy or placebo for 9 weeks to study its effects on blood pressure and related physiological parameters

9 weeks

Regular visits for monitoring and assessments

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Androgen receptor inhibitor (Androgen Receptor Inhibitor)
• Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist)
• Placebo (Other)

Trial Overview The study investigates how ADT for prostate cancer may lead to high blood pressure by affecting the nervous system and kidneys. It involves a Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonist and Androgen receptor inhibitor versus placebo in controlling blood pressure.

Participant Groups

Group I: Prostate Cancer Active Control 2 Interventions

Men undergoing androgen deprivation therapy via gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist plus androgen receptor inhibitor for the treatment of prostate cancer

Group II: Healthy + ADT Active Control 2 Interventions

Healthy men undergoing gonadal suppression via gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist plus androgen receptor inhibitor for 9 weeks

Group III: Healthy + Placebo Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Healthy men undergoing placebo for 9 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Colorado, Denver

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,842

Recruited

3,028,000+

Aviva Abosch

University of Colorado, Denver

Chief Medical Officer since 2019

MD

Uday B. Kompella

University of Colorado, Denver

Chief Executive Officer since 2015

PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Findings from Research

Goserelin, a type of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-A), is more effective than leuprolide in maintaining low testosterone levels and has the highest efficacy in suppressing prostate-specific antigen, which is crucial for monitoring prostate cancer progression.

In terms of survival rates, goserelin shows impressive outcomes, with a 10-year overall survival rate of 87% when used as an adjuvant to radical prostatectomy, highlighting its effectiveness in advanced prostate cancer treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists in prostate cancer: A comparative review of efficacy and safety. Raja, T., Sud, R., Addla, S., et al.[2022]

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, including leuprolide, goserelin, triptorelin, and histrelin, are effective for androgen suppression in men with advanced prostate cancer.

Preliminary data suggests that triptorelin may be more effective than leuprolide in maintaining low testosterone levels, although further studies are needed to confirm the clinical importance of this finding.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of single-agent androgen suppression for advanced prostate cancer. Lepor, H.[2022]

The PRONOUNCE trial is a significant study involving approximately 900 men with advanced prostate cancer and pre-existing cardiovascular disease, comparing the cardiovascular safety of the GnRH antagonist degarelix versus the GnRH agonist leuprolide over 12 months.

This study aims to determine if using a GnRH antagonist reduces the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) compared to a GnRH agonist, addressing concerns about increased cardiovascular risks associated with androgen deprivation therapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cardiovascular Safety of Degarelix Versus Leuprolide for Advanced Prostate Cancer: The PRONOUNCE Trial Study Design. Melloni, C., Slovin, SF., Blemings, A., et al.[2022]

GnRH antagonists like abarelix and degarelix provide a rapid and sustained decrease in testosterone levels for patients with advanced prostate cancer without causing the testosterone surge associated with LHRH agonists, making them effective for immediate androgen suppression.

Both abarelix and degarelix have shown a low complication rate in the short term, indicating they are a safe option for initiating hormonal therapy in hormone-dependent prostate cancer.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Abarelix and other gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonists in prostate cancer. Kirby, RS., Fitzpatrick, JM., Clarke, N.[2013]

Abarelix, a GnRH receptor antagonist, provides a faster medical castration for advanced prostate cancer without the initial testosterone surge associated with LHRH agonists, which can worsen the disease, especially in patients with bone metastases.

The safety profile of abarelix is similar to that of LHRH agonists, but its lack of testosterone surge may offer a significant safety advantage by eliminating the risk of disease flare during treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist in the management of prostate cancer. Debruyne, FM.[2020]

GnRH antagonists are associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular events compared to GnRH agonists in prostate cancer patients undergoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), especially in those with cardiovascular risk factors.

The different mechanisms of action between GnRH agonists and antagonists may explain the reduced cardiovascular risk, suggesting that GnRH antagonists should be preferred for prostate cancer patients with cardiovascular issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Cardiovascular risk of androgen deprivation therapy for treatment of hormone-dependent prostate cancer : Differences between GnRH antagonists and GnRH agonists]. Tschöpe, C., Kherad, B., Spillmann, F., et al.[2018]

In a study of 9,107 prostate cancer patients over a median follow-up of 3 years, surgical castration was associated with a higher risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to those receiving GnRH therapies, with hazard ratios indicating a 1.8-fold increase in risk.

While there were no significant differences in overall major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) between the two treatment groups, the findings suggest that surgical castration may pose greater cardiac safety concerns, particularly for patients with advanced cancer (stage IV).

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of Surgical or Medical Castration-Related Cardiotoxicity in Patients with Prostate Cancer. Kan, WC., Hsieh, KL., Chen, YC., et al.[2022]

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the standard treatment for advanced prostate cancer, but GnRH agonists used in ADT are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.

Recent studies, including a phase III trial of the oral GnRH antagonist relugolix, suggest that GnRH antagonists have fewer cardiovascular side effects while maintaining similar efficacy to GnRH agonists, indicating they may be a safer alternative for ADT in prostate cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cardiovascular Toxicity of Androgen Deprivation Therapy. Boland, J., Choi, W., Lee, M., et al.[2021]

References

1. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Cardiovascular risk patients under androgen deprivation therapy: Lower risk with GnRH antagonists compared to LHRH agonists?]. [2018]

2. India pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists in prostate cancer: A comparative review of efficacy and safety. [2022]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of single-agent androgen suppression for advanced prostate cancer. [2022]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cardiovascular Safety of Degarelix Versus Leuprolide for Advanced Prostate Cancer: The PRONOUNCE Trial Study Design. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Abarelix and other gonadotrophin-releasing hormone antagonists in prostate cancer. [2013]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist in the management of prostate cancer. [2020]

7. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Cardiovascular risk of androgen deprivation therapy for treatment of hormone-dependent prostate cancer : Differences between GnRH antagonists and GnRH agonists]. [2018]

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of Surgical or Medical Castration-Related Cardiotoxicity in Patients with Prostate Cancer. [2022]

9. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cardiovascular Toxicity of Androgen Deprivation Therapy. [2021]