Prostate-specific Antigen Response as a Prognostic Factor for Overall Survival in Patients with Prostate Cancer Treated with Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitors: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background and objective: For patients with advanced prostate cancer (PC) treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) plus an androgen receptor pathway inhibitor (ARPI), the decline in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a potential biomarker for treatment response. We synthesised data regarding the association of the PSA response with overall survival (OS).

Methods: The MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were searched up to November 2024 to identify studies evaluating the association between the PSA response and OS among patients treated with ADT + ARPI. Hazard ratios (HRs) were pooled in random-effects meta-analyses.

Key findings and limitations: We identified 14 studies comprising a total of 8883 patients. Among four studies in metastatic hormone-sensitive PC (n = 2197), achievement of an undetectable PSA level was associated with better OS (HR 0.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23-0.49). In two studies in nonmetastatic castration-resistant PC (n = 1507), a PSA decline to <0.2 ng/ml (HR 0.28, 95% CI 0.21-0.36), a PSA reduction of ≥90% (HR 0.39, 95% CI 0.28-0.52), and a PSA reduction of ≥50% (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16-0.69) were associated with better OS. Among four studies in metastatic castration-resistant PC (n = 3728), PSA reductions of ≥90% (HR 0.22, 95% CI 0.14-0.34) and ≥50% (HR 0.29, 95% CI 0.20-0.41) were associated with better OS. The main limitations include heterogeneity in study designs and use of ADT before baseline PSA measurement in mHSPC studies.

Conclusions and clinical implications: The PSA response following ADT + ARPI therapy is significantly associated with OS across all metastatic and castration-resistant PC states and could serve as a clinically useful early signal of efficacy. It remains to be proven whether the PSA response is a surrogate for OS or should guide changes in clinical care.

Keywords: Androgen deprivation therapy; Androgen receptor pathway inhibitor; Androgen receptor–targeted agent; Hormonal therapy; Novel hormonal agent; Prostate-specific antigen.