Combination Therapies in Locally Advanced and Metastatic Hormone-sensitive Prostate Cancer

Abstract

Background and objective

The treatment landscape for advanced prostate cancer has evolved significantly over the past decade. The introduction of docetaxel, androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs), poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, and targeted radionuclides has redefined the treatment paradigm, with a focus now on early treatment intensification through combination therapies. This narrative collaborative review summarises the current evidence of combination therapies in locally advanced and metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).

Methods

We conducted a literature search up to November 2024. Search terms included “metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer”, “metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer”, “locally advanced prostate cancer”, “combination”, “intensification”, and “de-escalation”. Articles were selected by the authors based on their scientific merit, clinical impact, and relevance to provide a summary of the evidence surrounding combination therapy in locally advanced prostate cancer and mHSPC.

Key findings and limitations

A doublet approach with an androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) backbone and an ARPI is now considered the standard treatment for mHSPC, with a triplet regimen incorporating docetaxel considered in select subgroups. Similar efforts to improve survival in the high-risk localised and locally advanced disease setting have led to several trials evaluating the benefit of combination therapy in addition to standard-of-care surgery or radiotherapy with ADT. Continued improvements in survival have turned the focus to optimising patient selection for treatment intensification and, in some cases, de-escalation, with the goal of reducing unnecessary overtreatment and minimising harm from long-term treatment toxicity. This is particularly important with the integration of prostate-specific membrane antigen positron emission tomography, which has led to the earlier detection of metastatic disease.

Conclusions and clinical implications

In select subgroups, early treatment intensification with combination therapy leads to improved survival, though it can be associated with long-term toxicity.