A phase II trial of the aurora kinase A inhibitor alisertib for patients with castration resistant and neuroendocrine prostate cancer: efficacy and biomarkers

Background: Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is an aggressive variant of prostate cancer that may develop de novo or as a mechanism of treatment resistance. N-myc is capable of driving NEPC progression. Alisertib inhibits the interaction between N-myc and its stabilizing factor Aurora-A, inhibiting N-myc signaling, and suppressing tumor growth. Experimental Design: Sixty men were treated with alisertib50mg twice daily for 7 days every 21-days. Eligibility included metastatic prostate cancer and at least one: small cell neuroendocrine morphology; 50% neuroendocrine marker expression; new liver metastases without PSA progression; elevated serum neuroendocrine markers. The primary endpoint was six-month radiographic progression free survival (rPFS). Pre-treatment biopsies were evaluated by whole exome and RNA-seq and patient-derived organoids were developed. Results: Median PSA was 1.13 ng/ml (0.01-514.2), number of prior therapies was three, and 68% had visceral metastases. Genomic alterations involved RB1 (55%), TP53 (46%), PTEN (29%), BRCA2 (29%),AR (27%), and there was a range of androgen receptor signaling and NEPC marker expression. Six-month rPFS was 13.4% and median overall survival was 9.5 months (7.3-13). Four exceptional responders were identified, including complete resolution of liver metastases and prolonged stable disease, with tumors suggestive of N-myc and Aurora-A overactivity. Patient organoids exhibited concordant responses to alisertib and allowed for the dynamic testing of Aurora-N-myc complex disruption. Conclusions: Although the study did not meet its primary endpoint, a subset of patients with advanced prostate cancer and molecular features supporting Aurora-A and N-myc activation achieved significant clinical benefit from single-agent alisertib.

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