Clinical trial Recruiting at 15 sites Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 and up Men only

Comparing Carboplatin and Olaparib for Prostate Cancer with DNA Repair Mutations

Official title: An Open-label, Multicenter Phase II Study to Compare the Efficacy of Carboplatin as First-line Followed by Second-line Olaparib Versus Olaparib as First-line Followed by Second-line Carboplatin in the Treatment of Patients With Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer Containing Homologous Recombination Deficiency

Run by VA Office of Research and Development · NCT04038502 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing whether carboplatin or olaparib works better for men with advanced prostate cancer who have certain DNA repair mutations.

More Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexMen only
Enrollment100 (estimated)
SponsorVA Office of Research and Development
Federal
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations18 sites (West Los Angeles, California and 17 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedOctober 1, 2019
Main results expectedAugust 31, 2027
Study endsAugust 31, 2027
Registry record updatedSeptember 17, 2026
Trial IDNCT04038502 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are men over 18 years old with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer and specific DNA repair mutations.

Probably not a fit

Patients with pure small-cell or high-grade neuroendocrine prostate cancer histology may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the effectiveness of two treatments, carboplatin and olaparib, for men with metastatic castrate resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have specific DNA repair mutations. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either carboplatin or olaparib as their initial therapy, with the option to switch to the other treatment upon disease progression. The study aims to determine which of the two drugs provides a better response in this patient population. The trial is designed to improve treatment options for patients with targeted DNA repair mutations.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide more effective treatment options for patients with specific genetic mutations associated with prostate cancer.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promising results using similar approaches with DNA repair mutations in cancer treatment.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Signed study informed consent form (ICF) and HIPAA authorization form
2. Diagnosis of prostate cancer (pure small-cell histology or pure high-grade neuroendocrine histology are excluded; neuroendocrine differentiation is allowed)
3. Ongoing gonadal androgen deprivation therapy with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, antagonists or orchiectomy. Patients who have not had an orchiectomy must be maintained on effective GnRH analogue/antagonist therapy
4. mCRPC as defined by serum testosterone \< 50 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) for patients on GnRH analogues or antagonists) and at least one of the following:

   * Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level of at least 2 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) that has risen on at least 2 successive occasions at least 1 week apart
   * Evaluable disease progression by modified RECIST 1.1 (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors)
   * Progression of metastatic bone disease on bone scan, CT or MRI with \> 2 new lesions
5. Prior therapy with abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide, apalutamide, or darolutamide
6. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of \< 2 (see Appendix 3, ECOG Grading Scale)
7. Results of previous standard DNA testing, or previous research testing, which confirms RAD51B, RAD51C, RAD51D, or RAD54L mutations (see Introduction, Section 2 for study design and previous research on targeted therapy) from primary, metastatic tumor or circulating tumor DNA, or pathogenic/likely pathogenic germline variant as assessed by a CLIA certified laboratory level assay for DNA sequencing.
8. Patients must have normal organ and bone marrow function measured within 28 days prior to administration of study treatment as defined below:

   * Hemoglobin \> 10.0 grams per deciliter (g/dL)
   * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \> 1.5 x 109/liter (L)
   * Platelet count \> 100 x 109/L
   * Total bilirubin \< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)
   * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT) / Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (Serum Glutamic Pyruvate Transaminase (SGPT) \< 2.5 x institutional upper limit of normal unless liver metastases are present in which case, they must be \< 5x ULN
   * Patients must have creatinine clearance estimated using the Cockcroft-Gault equation of \>51 mL/min: Estimated creatinine clearance =(140-age \[years\]) x weight (kg)/(serum creatinine (mg/dL) x 72)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Currently receiving active therapy for other neoplastic disorder(s)
2. Concurrent enrollment in another clinical investigational drug or device study
3. Histologic evidence of small cell carcinoma (morphology alone - immunohistochemical evidence of neuroendocrine differentiation without morphologic evidence is not exclusionary)
4. Prior treatment with platinum, mitoxantrone or PARP inhibitor for castration resistant prostate cancer
5. Known parenchymal brain metastasis
6. Active or symptomatic viral hepatitis or chronic liver disease AST or ALT \> 2.5 x ULN or total bilirubin \> ULN (unless Gilbert's syndrome is the etiology of hyperbilirubinemia)
7. Subjects with myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia or with features suggestive of MDS/AML
8. Concomitant use of known strong CYP3A inhibitors (e.g. itraconazole, telithromycin, clarithromycin, protease inhibitors boosted with ritonavir or cobicistat, indinavir, saquinavir, nelfinavir, boceprevir, telaprevir) or moderate CYP3A inhibitors (e.g. ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, diltiazem, fluconazole, verapamil). The required washout period prior to starting olaparib is 2 weeks
9. Concomitant use of known strong (e.g. phenobarbital, enzalutamide, phenytoin, rifampicin, rifabutin, rifapentine, carbamazepine, nevirapine and St John's Wort) or moderate CYP3A inducers (e.g. bosentan, efavirenz, modafinil). The required washout period prior to starting olaparib is 5 weeks for phenobarbital and 3 weeks for other agents
10. Subjects unable to swallow orally administered medication and subjects with gastrointestinal disorders likely to interfere with absorption of the study medication
11. Clinically significant heart disease as evidenced by myocardial infarction, or arterial thrombotic events in the past 6 months, severe or unstable angina, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II-IV heart disease or cardiac ejection fraction measurement of \< 35 % at baseline
12. Treatment with an investigational therapeutic within 30 days of Cycle-1
13. Presence of dementia, psychiatric illness, and/or social situations limiting compliance with study requirements or understanding HIPAA authorization and/or giving of informed consent
14. Any condition(s), medical or otherwise, which, in the opinion of the Investigators, would jeopardize either the patient or the integrity of the data obtained

Where it's running

  • VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA
    West Los Angeles, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
    Aurora, Colorado, United States
    Recruiting
  • Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC
    Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States
    Recruiting
  • Orlando VA Medical Center, Orlando, FL
    Orlando, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA
    Decatur, Georgia, United States
    Recruiting
  • Boise VA Medical Center, Boise, ID
    Boise, Idaho, United States
    Recruiting
Show 12 more locations
  • VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI
    Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
    Recruiting
  • Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN
    Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
    Recruiting
  • Kansas City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO
    Kansas City, Missouri, United States
    Recruiting
  • Manhattan Campus of the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, New York, NY
    New York, New York, United States
    Recruiting
  • Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC
    Durham, North Carolina, United States
    Recruiting
  • VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR
    Portland, Oregon, United States
    Recruiting
  • Philadelphia MultiService Center, Philadelphia, PA
    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting
  • VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA
    Seattle, Washington, United States
    Recruiting
  • William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI
    Madison, Wisconsin, United States
    Recruiting
  • Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Pay Pines, FL
    Bay Pines, Florida, United States
    Terminated
  • Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL
    Chicago, Illinois, United States
    Terminated
  • James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY
    The Bronx, New York, United States
    Terminated

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Robert B. Montgomery, MD — VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA
  • Study coordinator: Robert B Montgomery, MD
  • Email: Robert.Montgomery@va.gov
  • Phone: (206) 277-6878

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.