Combining Lutetium-177 PSMA targeted therapy with liver-directed treatment for prostate cancer spread to the liver

A Phase 1b Study of 177Lu-PSMA-617 Combined With Liver Directed Therapy in Metastatic Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer

This trial tests whether giving Lutetium-177 PSMA targeted radiation together with liver-directed treatments helps men with metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer that has spread to the liver and who progressed on prior androgen pathway inhibitors.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: Male
• Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, radiation
• Locations: 1 site (San Francisco, California)
• Trial ID: NCT07145177 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is an open-label, single-arm phase 1b trial designed to determine the safety of sequencing 177Lu-PSMA-617 with liver-directed procedures (such as ablation or TACE) in men with mCRPC and liver metastases. Participants receive systemic 177Lu-PSMA-617 and undergo liver-directed therapy when lesions are amenable, with PET/CT imaging and tumor biopsies used for response assessment and correlative studies. The primary focus is safety and tolerability, while investigator-assessed RECIST responses, hepatic response rates, radiographic progression-free survival, overall survival, and PSA declines are collected as secondary outcomes. The study is led by UCSF with industry collaboration to explore whether combining local liver control with PSMA-directed radioligand therapy improves outcomes for this high-risk subgroup.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Men with histologically confirmed metastatic castration‑resistant prostate cancer who have liver metastases suitable for ablation or TACE and who have progressed on at least one second‑generation androgen signaling inhibitor are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Patients without liver metastases, those who are not castrate or cannot remain on LHRH analogues, or those who are not candidates for liver-directed procedures are unlikely to benefit from this combined approach.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve control of liver metastases and potentially extend progression-free and overall survival for men with mCRPC involving the liver.

How similar studies have performed: PSMA-targeted 177Lu therapy has shown benefit in prior mCRPC trials, but combining it sequentially with liver-directed treatments is a novel approach that has not been well established.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histologically confirmed prostate cancer.
2. Progressive disease by PCWG3 criteria at study entry.
3. Male participants who are at least 18 years of age on the day of signing informed consent.
4. Castrate level of serum testosterone at study entry (\< 50 ng/dL). Note: Participants without prior bilateral orchiectomy are required to remain on Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue treatment for duration of study treatment.
5. Prior progression on at least one second generation androgen signaling inhibitor including abiraterone, apalutamide, darolutamide, and/or enzalutamide.
6. Adverse events related to prior anti-cancer treatment (excluding LHRH analogs) must have recovered to Grade ≤ 1 (except for any grade alopecia and grade ≤ 2 neuropathy).
7. Prior external beam radiotherapy is allowed if the last radiotherapy treatment was greater than 2 weeks from start of study treatment on Cycle 1 Day 1 (C1D1). Note: Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities. A 1-week washout is permitted for palliative radiation (≤2 weeks of radiotherapy) to non-central nervous system (CNS) disease.
8. At least one PSMA-avid extrahepatic lesion on screening PSMA Positron Emission Tomography (PET). A positive lesion is defined as uptake above background liver. Hepatic lesions may be PSMA PETnegative or positive.
9. Availability of archival mCRPC tissue, or presence of a metastatic lesion that is amenable to fresh biopsy and willingness to undergo biopsy during screening if no archival mCRPC tissue available.
10. The presence of one or more liver metastases amenable to liver-directed therapy in the judgment of the treating interventional radiologist. Liver metastases may be detected by CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and biopsy confirmation is not required.
11. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≤ 2 or Karnofsky ≥ 50%.
12. Demonstrates adequate organ function as defined below:

    1. Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/ microliter (mcL).
    2. Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL.
    3. Hemoglobin \> 9.0 g/dL.
    4. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN). In participants with known or suspected Gilbert's disease, direct bilirubin ≤ ULN.
    5. aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) ≤ 5 x institutional upper limit of normal.
    6. alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) ≤ 5 x institutional upper limit of normal.
    7. Prothrombin time ≤ 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (unless on medical therapy known to prolong prothrombin time).
    8. Albumin ≥ 2.8 g/dL
    9. Creatinine clearance Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥ 30 mL/min/1.73 m2, calculated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation or 24 hour urine collection.
13. Participants with previously treated brain metastases are eligible provided the following criteria are all met:

    1. Last treatment was \> 28 days prior to C1D1
    2. No evidence of new/progressive brain metastases is observed on MRI obtained during the Screening window
14. Participants must use appropriate methods of contraception during study treatment and for at least 6 months after last study treatment. Note: Participants who are sexually active should consider their female partner to be of childbearing potential if she has experienced menarche and is not postmenopausal (defined as amenorrhea \> 24 consecutive months) or has not undergone successful surgical sterilization. Even women who use contraceptive hormones (oral, implanted, or injected), an intrauterine device, or barrier methods (diaphragms, condoms, spermicide) should be considered to be of childbearing potential. Participants who have undergone vasectomy themselves should also be considered to be of childbearing potential. Acceptable methods of contraception include continuous total abstinence, or double barrier method of birth control (e.g., condoms used with spermicide, or condoms used with oral contraceptives). Periodic abstinence and withdrawal are not acceptable methods of contraception.
15. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. De novo small cell neuroendocrine prostate cancer.
2. One or more extrahepatic soft tissue lesions (lymph nodes \> 1.5 cm in short axis, visceral/soft tissue lesions \> 1 cm) on screening CT that is negative on PSMA PET. Non- PSMA avid liver lesions are allowed.
3. Recipient of other systemic anti-cancer therapies administered within 14 days, or 5 half lives, whichever is shorter, prior to initiation of study treatment. Note: LHRH analogues are the exception and are permitted
4. Recipient of prior PSMA-directed radioligand treatment.
5. Recipient of \> 2 lines of prior taxane-based chemotherapy administered in the castration-resistant setting. Prior taxane in the castration sensitive setting does not count towards this limit. If platinum chemotherapy is added to taxane this does not count as a separate line of treatment.
6. Previous bilio-enteric anastomosis, ampulla of Vater sphincterotomy, biliary stent, or biliary drain passing through the ampulla of Vater.
7. Currently participating in a study of an investigational therapeutic agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment on C1D1. Note: Participants who have entered the follow-up phase of an investigational study may participate as long as it has been 4 weeks after the last dose of the previous investigational agent.
8. Clinically significant cardiovascular disease including, but not limited to:

   1. Uncontrolled or any New York Heart Association Class 3 or 4 congestive heart failure.
   2. Uncontrolled angina, history of myocardial infarction, unstable angina, or stroke within 6 months before study entry.
   3. Clinically significant arrhythmias not controlled by medication. Note: Chronic rate-controlled or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation/flutter is not an exclusion to study participation.
9. Major surgery within 28 days of study treatment. Note: If participant received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting study treatment on C1D1. Minor procedures (e.g., biopsy, cataract surgery, stent placement, endoscopy) are not considered major surgery.
10. Has a secondary malignancy requiring active treatment at study entry (except for carcinoma-in-situ, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, and non-melanoma skin cancer).
11. Has an active infection requiring intravenous antibiotics within 7 days prior to C1D1.
12. Has a known history of Hepatitis B infection (Hepatitis B surface antigen \[HBsAg\] reactive) or known active Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV RNA \[qualitative\] detected, with the following exceptions:

    1. Participants who are HbsAg positive are eligible if they have received hepatitis B Virus (HBV) antiviral therapy for at least 4 weeks and have undetectable HBV viral load prior to study entry.
    2. Participants with history of HCV infection are eligible if HCV viral load is undetectable at screening. Participants must have completed curative anti-viral therapy at least 4 weeks prior to study entry.
13. Not a candidate for liver-directed therapy on the basis of any of the following:

    1. History of bleeding diathesis and currently on anti-coagulation therapy that cannot be safely discontinued for liver directed therapy.
    2. Clinically significant ascites including requiring more than one paracentesis in the 28 days prior to C1D1.
14. Unable or unwilling to follow radiation safety precautions following each dose of radioligand therapy or liver directed therapy.
15. Any condition that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator, would impair the participant's ability to comply with study procedures.

Where this trial is running

San Francisco, California

• University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, California, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Rahul Aggarwal, MD — University of California, San Francisco
• Study coordinator: Maya Aslam

Conditions Metastatic Prostate Cancer; Prostate Cancer