Innovative Therapy Extends Delay in Recurrent Prostate Cancer Progression

Recent clinical research from UCLA Health has demonstrated that a novel PSMA-targeted radioligand therapy can significantly prolong the period before prostate cancer recurrence advances in patients undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). In a phase 2 trial, patients with oligorecurrent prostate cancer received either SBRT alone or a combination of two doses of the radioligand drug 177Lu-PNT2002 followed by SBRT. The results revealed that those who received the radioligand therapy experienced a median progression-free survival of 17.6 months, more than double the 7.4 months observed in the SBRT-only group. Furthermore, this group had a median of 24.3 months before needing hormonal therapy, compared to 14.1 months in the control group, effectively delaying treatment side effects. The study underscores the potential of PSMA-targeted theranostics to manage microscopic disease that remains undetectable by current imaging technologies, addressing a major challenge in recurrent prostate cancer treatment.

Presented at the 2025 American Society for Radiation Oncology Annual Meeting, these findings highlight how integrating radioligand therapy early in the disease course may alter its trajectory. Dr. Amar Kishan, the study’s lead author and UCLA radiation oncology expert, emphasized that this approach not only delays disease progression but also postpones the need for hormone therapies, which are associated with adverse effects such as fatigue and osteoporosis. The trial also identified immune response markers and gene sets that could guide personalized treatment strategies. Despite the promising outcomes, the study noted that 64% of patients still experienced progression, indicating ongoing challenges with microscopic disease management. Overall, this research marks a significant step toward earlier, more effective interventions in prostate cancer care, showcasing the synergy of advanced imaging and targeted therapy to improve patient outcomes.