Repurposing itraconazole as a treatment for advanced prostate cancer: A noncomparative randomized phase ii trial in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer Journal Article


Authors: Antonarakis, E. S.; Heath, E. I.; Smith, D. C.; Rathkopf, D.; Blackford, A. L.; Danila, D. C.; King, S.; Frost, A.; Seun Ajiboye, A.; Zhao, M.; Mendonca, J.; Kachhap, S. K.; Rudek, M. A.; Carducci, M. A.
Article Title: Repurposing itraconazole as a treatment for advanced prostate cancer: A noncomparative randomized phase ii trial in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer
Abstract: Background. The antifungal drug itraconazole inhibits angiogenesis and Hedgehog signaling and delays tumor growth in murine prostate cancer xenograft models. We conducted a noncomparative, randomized, phase II study evaluating the antitumor efficacy of two doses of oral itraconazole in men with metastatic prostate cancer. Patients and Methods. We randomly assigned 46 men with chemotherapy-naïve metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) to receive low-dose (200 mg/day) or high-dose (600 mg/day) itraconazole until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression-free survival (PPFS) rate at 24 weeks; a 45% success rate in either arm was prespecified as constituting clinical significance. Secondary endpoints included the progression-free survival (PFS) rate and PSA response rate (Prostate Cancer Working Group criteria). Exploratory outcomes included circulating tumor cell (CTC) enumeration, serum androgen measurements, as well as pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses. Results. The high-dose arm enrolled to completion (n = 29), but the low-dose arm closed early (n = 17) because of a prespecified futility rule. The PPFS rates at 24 weeks were 11.8% in the low-dose arm and 48.0% in the high-dose arm. The median PFS times were 11.9 weeks and 35.9 weeks, respectively. PSA response rates were 0% and 14.3%, respectively. In addition, itraconazole had favorable effects on CTC counts, and it suppressed Hedgehog signaling in skin biopsy samples. Itraconazole did not reduce serum testosterone or dehydroepiandrostenedione sulfate levels. Common toxicities included fatigue, nausea, anorexia, rash, and a syndrome of hypokalemia, hypertension, and edema. Conclusion. High-dose itraconazole (600 mg/day) has modest antitumor activity in men with metastatic CRPC that is not mediated by testosterone suppression. © AlphaMed Press 2013.
Keywords: angiogenesis; prostate cancer; itraconazole; hedgehog pathway
Journal Title: The Oncologist
Volume: 18
Issue: 2
ISSN: 1083-7159
Publisher: Oxford University Press  
Date Published: 2013-01-01
Start Page: 163
End Page: 173
Language: English
DOI: 10.1634/theoncologist.2012-314
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 23340005
PMCID: PMC3579600
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Export Date: 1 April 2013" - "CODEN: OCOLF" - "Source: Scopus"
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  1. Dana Elizabeth Rathkopf
    272 Rathkopf
  2. Daniel C Danila
    154 Danila