ASCO 2026: Latest in prostate cancer

Prof Eleni Efstathiou (Houston Methodist Cancer Center, Houston, USA), Dr Mary-Ellen Taplin (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, USA), Prof Boris Hadaschik (University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany) and Prof Axel Merseburger (University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany) discuss the latest in prostate cancer from ASCO 2026.

The experts highlight key advances in prostate cancer across both localised and metastatic settings, focusing on intensified and biomarker-driven therapies.

In the phase III PROTEUS trial, perioperative apalutamide combined with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) demonstrated improved outcomes compared to placebo plus ADT in patients with high-risk localised or locally advanced prostate cancer, supporting treatment intensification around radical prostatectomy.

In parallel, the TALAPRO-3 study showed that talazoparib plus enzalutamide provides clinical benefit in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) harbouring homologous recombination repair (HRR) gene alterations, reinforcing the value of targeted therapy in genetically defined subgroups.

Prof Efstathiou says that together, these studies underscore a shift toward earlier intervention and precision medicine approaches, improving outcomes across the prostate cancer disease spectrum.