New drug cocktail aims to wipe out aggressive prostate cancer before surgery
NCT ID NCT05593497
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Aug 26, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests whether adding the targeted drug capivasertib to standard hormone therapy can shrink or destroy high-risk prostate tumors before surgery. The study enrolls 30 men with PTEN-loss prostate cancer, a marker of resistance to standard treatment. Participants receive the drug combination for 16 weeks, then undergo prostate removal to check for complete or near-complete cancer clearance.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Capivasertib (a targeted drug) combined with abiraterone and leuprolide (hormone therapies)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this combination could shrink or eliminate high-risk prostate tumors before surgery, potentially improving long-term outcomes for patients with PTEN loss.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small early-phase trial with only 30 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The drug combination may cause side effects, and it's unclear if it will outperform standard treatment.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 30 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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May 2024
- Expected to finish
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Aug 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a US federal agency other than the NIH.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Informed Consent: provision of signed informed consent, which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in this protocol. 2. Members of all races and ethnic groups will be included. 3. Participants must have histologically confirmed non-metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate 4. (a) Any one of the following three high risk features: * Gleason sum \>7 (ISUP Grade Group \>3) * Clinical stage T3 (resectable), per American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Cancer Staging Manual, 8th edition * Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) \> 20 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) oSubjects who meet high risk criteria solely by PSA (i.e., stage \<T3 AND Gleason sum less than or equal to 7) must have a progression-free probability after radical prostatectomy that is less than or equal to 50% at 5 years as estimated by the Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) pre-radical prostatectomy nomogram: https://www.mskcc.org/nomograms/prostate/pre\_op (b) Subjects not meeting high risk criteria that have the following combination may be screened for inclusion: * Gleason score 4+3=7 (ISUP Grade Group 3) AND * Estimated progression-free probability after radical prostatectomy that is less than or equal to 50% at 5 years by MSK nomogram 5. No definitive evidence of metastasis on nuclear bone scan (required on all subjects) 6. No evidence of lymph nodes \> 2 centimeter (cm) in diameter on pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan (scan only required in patients with a PSA \> 20 ng/ml) 7. Prostatectomy with extended lymph node dissection planned as primary therapy * The subject had a discussion with a clinician about other options, such as radiotherapy, and elected to undergo surgical treatment * The subject has been offered consultation with radiation oncology and declined consultation or radiation treatment, or determined it was not in best medical interest 8. Be willing to provide tissue from a diagnostic biopsy core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion obtained up to 6 months/180 days prior to initiation of treatment on Day 1. Subjects for whom samples cannot be provided (e.g., inaccessible or subject safety concern) may submit an older archived specimen only upon agreement from the Sponsor-Investigator. 9. Tumor tissue must be provided for biomarker analysis. Phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining must be less than or equal to 10% as determined by the central lab. If insufficient tumor tissue content is provided for analysis, acquisition of additional archived tumor tissue (block and /or slides) for the biomarker analysis is required 10. Have a performance status of 0 or 1 on the ECOG Performance Scale with no deterioration over the previous 2 weeks prior to baseline or day of first dosing. 11. Life expectancy of greater than 10 years per the treating physician 12. Minimum body weight of 45 kilogram (kg) with minimum Body Mass Index (BMI) of 18.5 13. Non-sterile men who are not totally sexually abstinent (i.e., refraining from heterosexual intercourse during the entire period of risk associated with study interventions) and intend to be sexually active with a women of childbearing potential partner must use a condom upon entering the study and until 16 weeks after the last dose of capivasertib. Contraception should be considered in females' partners of men taking capivasertib who are of childbearing potential 14. Able and willing to swallow and retain oral medication 15. Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined by laboratory parameters including ANC, platelets, hemoglobin, transaminases, albumin, hemoglobin A1C, CrCl or eGFR, PTT and INR (unless anticoagulated, then therapeutic range is acceptable). All screening labs should be performed within 30 days of treatment initiation Exclusion Criteria: 1. As judged by the investigator, any evidence of diseases (such as severe or uncontrolled systemic diseases, including uncontrolled hypertension, renal transplant and active bleeding diseases, uncontrolled pulmonary, renal, or hepatic dysfunction, uncontrolled infection, cardiac disease) which, in the investigator's opinion, makes it undesirable for the participant to participate in the study or that would jeopardize compliance with the protocol. 2. Any other disease, physical examination finding, or clinical laboratory finding that, in the investigator's opinion, gives reasonable suspicion of a disease or condition that contraindicates the use of an investigational drug, may affect the interpretation of the results, render the patient at high risk from treatment complications or interferes with obtaining informed consent. 3. Known to have active hepatitis infection, positive hepatitis C antibody, hepatitis B virus surface antigen or hepatitis B virus core antibody, at screening. Known to have human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with a CD4+ T-cell count \< 350 cells/uL or a history of an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-defining opportunistic infection within the past 12 months. Known to have active tuberculosis infection (clinical evaluation that may include clinical history, physical examination and radiographic findings, or tuberculosis testing in line with local practice). Known history of drug or alcohol abuse within 6 months of screening. 4. Prior prostate cancer treatment including: * Anti-androgen therapy including orchiectomy, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) therapy, abiraterone, ketoconazole, estrogen therapy (Short-term ADT allowed, less than or equal to 2 months) * Radiation (external beam or brachytherapy) * Cytotoxic chemotherapy * Focal or ablative therapy * Any experimental therapy for treatment of prostate cancer. 5. History of another primary malignancy except for malignancy treated with curative intent with no known active disease greater than or equal to 5 years before the first dose of study intervention and of low potential risk for recurrence. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy 6. Any of the following cardiac criteria: * Mean resting corrected QT interval (QTc) \> 470 msec obtained from 3 consecutive ECGs * Any clinically important abnormalities in rhythm, conduction or morphology of resting ECG (e.g., complete left bundle branch block, third-degree heart block) * Medical history significant for arrhythmia (e.g., multifocal premature ventricular contractions, bigeminy, trigeminy, ventricular tachycardia), which is symptomatic or requires treatment (CTCAE Grade 3), symptomatic or uncontrolled atrial fibrillation despite treatment, or asymptomatic sustained ventricular tachycardia. Participants with atrial fibrillation controlled by medication or arrhythmias controlled by pacemakers may be permitted to enter the study * Any factors that increase the risk of QTc prolongation or risk of arrhythmic events such as heart failure, hypokalemia, potential for torsades de pointes, congenital long QT syndrome, family history of long QT syndrome or unexplained sudden death under 40 years of age, or any concomitant medication known to prolong the QT interval * Clinically significant heart disease as evidenced by myocardial infarction, or arterial thrombotic events in the past 6 months, severe or unstable angina, or NYHA or Class II to IV heart failure or cardiac ejection fraction measurement of \< 50% * Experience of any of the following procedures or conditions in the preceding 6 months: coronary artery bypass graft, angioplasty, vascular stent, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure NYHA Grade less than or equal to 2 * Uncontrolled hypotension - systolic blood pressure (SBP) \<90 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) \<50 mmHg * Uncontrolled hypertension (SBP greater than or equal to 160 mmHg or DBP greater than or equal to 95 mmHg). * Cardiac ejection fraction outside institutional range of normal or \<50% (whichever is higher) as measured by echocardiogram (or multiple-gated acquisition \[MUGA\] scan if an echocardiogram cannot be performed or is inconclusive). 7. Clinically significant abnormalities of glucose metabolism as defined by any of the following: * Patients with diabetes mellitus type 1 or diabetes mellitus type 2 requiring insulin treatment * HbA1c greater than or equal to 8.0% (63.9 mmol/mol) 8. Refractory nausea and vomiting, chronic gastrointestinal disease, inability to swallow the formulated product, or previous significant bowel resection that would preclude adequate absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of capivasertib and abiraterone. 9. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial. 10. Previous allogeneic bone marrow transplant or solid organ transplant 11. Received major surgery within 6 weeks prior to screening, or significant traumatic injury within 4 weeks of the first dose of study intervention or an anticipated need for major surgery during the study except for prostatectomy; they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy. 12. Is currently participating and receiving study therapy, or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or study drugs within 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) of the first dose of study treatment 13. Has had a prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 30 days prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered (i.e., less than or equal to Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to agents administered more than 30 days earlier. 14. Has had prior chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, immunosuppressant medication (other than corticosteroids), or radiation therapy within 30 days prior to study Day 1, or who has not recovered (i.e., less than or equal to Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to a previously administered agent. Note: Subjects with less than or equal to Grade 2 neuropathy are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the study if ECOG 0-1. Note: A longer washout may be required for drugs with a long half-life (e.g., 30 days or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer) 15. Treatment with any of the following: * Nitrosourea or mitomycin C within 6 weeks of the first dose of study treatment * Potent inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4 within 2 weeks before the start of study treatment (3 weeks for St John's wort), or sensitive substrates of CYP3A4, CYP2C9 and/or CYP2D6 with a narrow therapeutic window within 1 week before the start of study treatment * Drugs known to prolong the QT interval within 5 half-lives of the first dose of study treatment * Any concomitant medication that may interfere with abiraterone safety and efficacy based on the prescribing information of abiraterone and local clinical guidelines 16. History of hypersensitivity to active or inactive excipients of capivasertib, abiraterone, or drugs with a similar chemical structure or class. 17. Any restriction or contraindication based on the local prescribing information that would prohibit the use of abiraterone and leuprolide. 18. Is unable to undergo research related biopsy as this is necessary to complete translational study objectives. 19. Judgment by the investigator that the participant should not participate in the study if the participant is unlikely to comply with study procedures, restrictions and requirements.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
8 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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James J. Peters VA Medical Center, Bronx, NY
RECRUITINGThe Bronx, New York, 10468-3904, United States
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Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGChicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
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Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGHouston, Texas, 77030-4211, United States
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Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC
RECRUITINGCharleston, South Carolina, 29401-5703, United States
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South Texas Health Care System, San Antonio, TX
TERMINATEDSan Antonio, Texas, 78229-4404, United States
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St. Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division, St. Louis, MO
RECRUITINGSt Louis, Missouri, 63106-1621, United States
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VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA
RECRUITINGWest Los Angeles, California, 90073-1003, United States
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VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR
RECRUITINGPortland, Oregon, 97207-2964, United States
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VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA
RECRUITINGSeattle, Washington, 98108-1532, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can a single radiation type spare prostate cancer patients from extra side effects?
- New scan could reveal hidden cancer in High-Risk prostate patients
- Promising prostate cancer combo trial pulled before starting
- New scan could revolutionize prostate cancer monitoring