Researchers found that adding the targeted drug niraparib to standard treatment (abiraterone acetate and prednisone) significantly slows the progression of advanced prostate cancer in men with specific DNA repair gene mutations. The trial included 696 men whose cancer had spread and who carried Homologous Recombination Repair (HRR) gene mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2.
The combination therapy reduced the risk of cancer growth or spread by 37% overall, and by 48% in men with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. It also doubled the time before symptoms worsened compared to standard treatment alone. Researchers suggest routine genomic testing for advanced prostate cancer patients to identify those most likely to benefit from this approach.
Although the treatment was generally well tolerated, men receiving niraparib had higher rates of anemia and high blood pressure. A trend toward longer survival was noted, but further follow-up is needed to confirm whether the combination extends life expectancy.