11 February 2022
A Queensland man with a potentially life-threatening form of prostate cancer has become one of the first patients in the world to start treatment in a clinical trial using a new form of nuclear medicine.
Researchers at the Princess Alexandra Hospital say if it proves effective, the investigational treatment could extend the lives of thousands of Australian men each year, preventing avoidable deaths from prostate cancer.
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia Chief of Mission and Head of Research, Professor Jeff Dunn, said Australia was leading the world in prostate cancer research.
“Australia has one of the highest rates of prostate cancer in the world – with more than 18,000 Aussie men diagnosed each year.
“Tragically, more than 3,300 men die from the disease each year, taking an immeasurable toll on lives.
“While the disease enjoys a relatively high survival rate, we welcome research such as this, which could help us cover the last mile to a cure.”
Professor Dunn commended the team driving the research.
“Impressively, this trial is being driven by an Australian-based company and led by Australian-based researchers, using diagnostic imaging and therapeutic agents in novel combinations.
“We are on the verge of a complete transformation in prostate cancer treatment, giving men with the most aggressive and deadly forms of this disease a greater hope of survival.
“Australia is a world leader in this field and our hope is that more Australian men will survive their disease as a result.”
At a broad level, the researchers are investigating an emerging field of nuclear medicine known as PSMA theranostics.
The Phase I study known as ProstACT SELECT, is sponsored by Telix Pharmaceuticals, and will be running at a number of hospitals and medical facilities across Australia.
“Theranostics combines therapy and diagnostics to improve our understanding of each man’s prostate cancer, and how it can be most effectively treated,” says Dr. Danielle Meyrick, Telix Chief Medical Officer for the Asia Pacific region.
“The therapeutic agent we are trialling has an affinity for Prostate Specific Membrane Antigen, a protein found on the surface of prostate cancer cells. After being injected into the blood stream, the investigational drug can track down rogue prostate cancer cells in other parts of the body.
“This research is seeking to establish the accuracy and efficacy of our new therapeutic agent in tracking and treating deadly tumours, using a unique nuclear medicine radiotracer that attaches itself to the PSMA and deploys a form of targeted radiation to find and destroy the killer cancer cells.
“Notably, this trial will be the first test of a novel therapeutic agent using an antibody as a targeting molecule.
“Until now, nuclear medicine therapies like this have generally relied on small molecules, which have required higher dosages compared to using an antibody as the targeting molecule.
“The objective of the study is to determine the distribution of the agent to the body’s organs and ensure good uptake to the tumours. The study will also evaluate therapeutic efficacy.
“We’ll also monitor patients in the trial to see whether the antibody results in fewer side effects than other therapies, and survey patient quality of life throughout the study.
“An antibody approach reduces excretion of the agent in the patient’s urine, as well as preventing salivary gland toxicity, which can be an unpleasant side effect of nuclear medicine therapies based on small molecule targeting agents.
“If this trial demonstrates the efficacy of the nuclear medicine agents our team is developing, it will represent significant progress in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.”
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related hospitalisations in Australia, accounting for nearly 1 in 10 of all cancer-related hospitalisations.
Treatment of the disease in Australia is expected to reach $500M by mid-decade.
Worldwide, more than 1.4 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year and more than 375,000 die from the disease.
Click here to read the Telix ASX release and here to read the news release online.
ENDS
Media contact:
Laura McKoy | M. 0435 094 788
