LAST WEEK TODAY!

A summary of what was published on ProstateWarriors.com during the past week

Hello fellow warriors! Back again in this hot Italian summer. Here we go with some more good news!
Stay strong and fight on!

As usual, we also have a podcast if you prefer to listen to the newsletter, you can find it HERE.
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Clinical Research

• Phase 3 Trial: Aglatimagene Besadenovec (CAN-2409) in Localized Prostate Cancer
  ​The Phase 3 PrTK03 trial demonstrated that adding the intratumoral gene therapy aglatimagene besadenovec (CAN-2409) plus valacyclovir to standard radiotherapy significantly improves disease-free survival in patients with localized prostate cancer. In the study of 745 patients, those receiving the gene therapy had a 30 percent lower risk of disease recurrence or death compared to the placebo group, with a hazard ratio of 0.70. While the treatment was well-tolerated with a safety profile similar to the placebo group, the 14-year duration from the trial’s start to these results highlights the urgent need for faster surrogate endpoints in prostate cancer research.​
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• Phase 1 Trial: Radiotherapy for Metastatic Prostate Cancer with Incomplete Hormone Response
  ​The RIALTO trial is investigating a new paradigm for treating de novo metastatic prostate cancer in patients who show an incomplete PSA response after six months of systemic therapy. This study challenges the idea that treating the primary tumor is irrelevant after metastasis, proposing instead that the prostate may act as a persistent reservoir that continues to seed new lesions. By using PSMA-PET/CT to guide aggressive radiotherapy to the prostate and all detectable metastases, the trial aims to determine if local ablation can improve radiological response and patient quality of life.​
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• Phase 1 Trial: Dual-Targeting PSMA and FRα Drug Conjugate (MVB-101)
  MVB-101 is a novel clinical-stage drug conjugate designed to overcome tumor heterogeneity by simultaneously targeting PSMA and folate receptor alpha (FRα). Because up to 20% of circulating tumor cells can be PSMA-negative, the addition of the FRα target allows the drug to reach cancer cells that might otherwise escape traditional PSMA-targeted therapies. Early data from a Phase 1 study in China indicates the drug is safe and well-tolerated, and the program is scheduled to advance to a U.S. Phase 1b/2a trial in the third quarter of 2026.​
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• Decipher Genomic Classifier in Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer
  ​A retrospective analysis of the ENZAMET trial has validated the Decipher genomic classifier as an objective tool for selecting treatment in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer. The study found that men with very high-risk tumor profiles (Decipher score above 0.85) benefit significantly from triplet therapy (adding docetaxel to standard hormone therapy and an ARPI) compared to doublet therapy alone. This finding shifts the use of genomic classifiers from purely prognostic tools to treatment-selection instruments, helping clinicians avoid unnecessary chemotherapy toxicity in patients with lower scores.​

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Preclinical Research & Reviews

• Targeting Cancer Persister Cells to Prevent Relapse
  ​Cancer therapy often leaves behind a tiny population of surviving cells known as “persisters,” which are responsible for disease relapse despite initial treatment success. These cells are not genetically resistant but enter a transient, drug-tolerant state that allows them to survive and eventually repopulate the tumor. Researchers at UCSF have developed a high-throughput platform to identify the vulnerabilities of these rare cells, offering a potential strategy to eradicate the “last 0.1%” of cancer before it can transition into a fully resistant state.​
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• Turning Prostate Cancer from Cold to Hot with Silica ParticlesBecause advanced prostate cancer is often “immunologically cold,” a research team has developed tiny engineered silica particles (C’ dots) to stimulate an immune response. These nanoparticles target PSMA and deliver iron into cancer cells to trigger ferroptosis, a form of oxidative cell death that releases signals to alert the immune system. In aggressive mouse models, combining these particles with checkpoint inhibitors and a macrophage-blocking drug increased complete remission rates to 50%, suggesting a new way to make prostate cancer vulnerable to immunotherapy.​
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• CRISPR-based Therapy for Hereditary Angioedema Will Impact Research
  ​A landmark Phase 3 trial has shown that a single infusion of a CRISPR-based therapy, lonvoguran ziclumeran, significantly reduces swelling attacks in patients with hereditary angioedema. The treatment works in vivo(i.e. the editing is, for the first time, done directly inside the body) by using gene-editing technology to switch off a gene in the liver responsible for producing a key enzyme that drives the disease. Patients in the trial experienced an 87 percent reduction in attack rates, with nearly two-thirds remaining completely attack-free, marking a major turning point for the broader field of genetic medicine, including oncology.​​

And…that’s all folks! For today at least!
Please let me know if there is anything I can improve in my newsletters, and let me know if you have enjoyed the podcast.

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Have a great weekend!

Max