Movember-funded study gives people with incurable prostate cancer more time

New research findings from a Movember-funded clinical trial reveal a world-first combination treatment approach that has led to longer lives, with less pain and fatigue, for people with incurable prostate cancer. A first-of-its-kind discovery made possible thanks to your support.

The study, called ENZA-p, was led by the ANZUP Cancer Trials Group in partnership with the Prostate Cancer Research Alliance, a joint initiative between the Australian Government and Movember. 

What is incurable prostate cancer?

Incurable prostate cancer—scientifically known as metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)—is a form of advanced prostate cancer. It occurs when cancer has spread beyond the prostate to other parts of the body and is no longer responding to curative treatments. Instead, the goal is to help those with prostate cancer live as long as possible with the best possible quality of life. That’s where ENZA-p comes in.

What did the ENZA-p study test?

ENZA-p tested a combination treatment (a radiation therapy called Lu-PSMA plus a hormone therapy called enzalutamide) compared to enzalutamide alone. The study involved 162 participants, with half receiving the combination treatment and the other half receiving the standalone treatment.

The trial also tested an innovative world-first personalised treatment approach called ‘adaptive dosing,’ which uses imaging and blood results to identify patients who are responding to the treatment and determine those patients who were most likely to benefit from continued treatment, tailoring the treatment approach for each patient.

Professor Louise Emmett, ENZA-p Study Chair and Director of Theranostics and Nuclear Medicine at St Vincent's says, “We are excited to present the positive results of our ENZA-p study internationally. Our findings show that participants who received the new treatment combination experienced longer and better lives in terms of increased overall survival and improved pain and fatigue for those with an otherwise poor prognosis."

“The study opens the door for exploring this combination of treatments earlier in metastatic prostate cancer.”

What impact does this have on people with prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer cases are on the rise, with The Lancet projecting that the number of new diagnoses will double from 2020 to 2040. 

Currently, people with prostate cancer that has spread to other areas of their body have few treatment options and approximately a 3 in 10 chance of surviving five years. This new approach hopes to change that. 

Sam McKeown, Director of Prostate Cancer Research at Movember, says, “Each year, thousands of people will face the prognosis that their prostate cancer cannot be cured. These findings present hope that those people could have more time and experience less pain and fatigue.

“Movember is proud to have supported the development of Lu-PSMA and enzalutamide as standalone treatments since 2009. We applaud ANZUP, Prof. Louise Emmett and her team for their innovation in trialling these treatments in combination.”

The full research results were presented at The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Genitourinary (GU) Cancers Symposium on 13 February 2025 at the Moscone West Conference Center in San Francisco, California.