Prostate cancer clinical trial end points: "RECIST"ing a step backwards Journal Article


Authors: Scher, H. I.; Morris, M. J.; Kelly, W. K.; Schwartz, L. H.; Heller, G.
Article Title: Prostate cancer clinical trial end points: "RECIST"ing a step backwards
Abstract: Purpose: To relate clinical issues to the clinical manifestations of prostate cancers across disease states using the eligibility and outcome criteria defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). Experimental Design: The manifestations of prostate cancer that characterize localized, recurrent, and metastatic disease were considered using the eligibility criteria for trials defined by RECIST. To do so, we analyzed the sites, size, and distribution of lesions in patients enrolled on contemporary Institutional Review Board-approved trials for progressive castrate and noncastrate metastatic disease. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were also assessed. RECIST-defined outcome measures for tumor regression were then applied to the metastatic patient cohorts, and separately to the states of a rising PSA (noncastrate and castrate) and localized disease. Results: Only 43.5% of men with castrate metastatic and 16% of noncastrate metastatic disease had measurable target lesions >2 cm in size. Overall, 84.4% of the target lesions were lymph nodes, of which 67.7% were ≥2 cm in the long axis. There are no target lesions in patients in the states of a rising PSA and localized disease, making them ineligible for trials under these criteria. PSA-based eligibility and outcomes under RECIST conflict with established reporting standards for the status of a rising PSA and castrate metastatic disease. The clinical manifestations of prostate cancer across multiple disease states are not addressed adequately using the eligibility criteria and outcomes measures defined by RECIST. Important treatment effects are not described. Conclusions: Trial eligibility and end points based solely on tumor regression are not applicable to the majority of the clinical manifestations of prostate cancers representing all clinical states. Treatment effects can be described more precisely if eligibility criteria are adapted to the clinical question being addressed and clinical state under study, focusing on the duration of benefit defined biochemically, radiographically, and/or clinically. © 2005 American Association for Cancer Research.
Keywords: adult; controlled study; treatment outcome; aged; major clinical study; clinical feature; clinical trial; cancer localization; cancer recurrence; solid tumor; lymph node metastasis; prostate specific antigen; controlled clinical trial; tumor regression; prostate cancer; prostate-specific antigen; prostatic neoplasms; evaluation; reference values; cancer size; neoplasm metastasis; outcomes research; cancer epidemiology; castration; endpoint determination; biochemistry; eligibility determination; clinical trials, phase ii
Journal Title: Clinical Cancer Research
Volume: 11
Issue: 14
ISSN: 1078-0432
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research  
Date Published: 2005-07-15
Start Page: 5223
End Page: 5232
Language: English
DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-05-0109
PUBMED: 16033840
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC1852496
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 59" - "Export Date: 24 October 2012" - "CODEN: CCREF" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Glenn Heller
    400 Heller
  2. Michael Morris
    586 Morris
  3. William K Kelly
    115 Kelly
  4. Lawrence H Schwartz
    312 Schwartz
  5. Howard Scher
    1131 Scher