Real-world treatment patterns and genetic testing in a metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer setting in Europe

Abstract

Aim: This study described treatment patterns, reasons for treatment, and homologous recombination repair mutation (HRRm) testing patterns in a real-world metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) population in Europe. Methods: Data were drawn from the Adelphi Prostate Cancer Disease Specific Programme™, a cross-sectional survey of physicians and patients conducted in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, November 2022–May 2023. Physicians provided clinical characteristics, treatment and HRRm testing patterns, and reasons for treatment for eight consecutive patients with mCRPC. Most analyses were descriptive; treatment reasons were compared using Fisher’s Exact test. Results: Physicians provided data for 1,737 mCRPC patients. Most patients (73%) were androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPi)-naïve at first-line (1 L) mCRPC. Here, at 1 L mCRPC, 60% of patients received ARPi and 24% chemotherapy. Of those who received ARPi prior to mCRPC (n = 291), 60% received chemotherapy at mCRPC and 21% ARPi. Overall, 37% were HRRm tested. Treatment patterns, sequencing, reasons, and HRRm testing varied by country, physician specialty, and practice setting. Conclusions: Treatment patterns generally followed guidelines. ARPi prescriptions prior to mCRPC were numerically higher than previously reported, however HRRm testing rates were still low meaning mCRPC patients may miss out on more effective targeted treatments.