This Medudy course is a video podcast for physicians on the
topic “PROTEUS Study – Perioperative Systemic Therapy for High-Risk Prostate Cancer.”
Prof. Dr. Axel Merseburger (Clinical Director and Chairholder, University Medical Center
Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck Campus) speaks with study co-author Prof. Dr. Boris Hadaschik
(Clinical Director, University Medical Center Essen, West German Cancer Center) about the
PROTEUS study, published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The global Phase III study examined a perioperative regimen of ADT plus apalutamide (
six months before and after radical prostatectomy) compared to ADT alone in approximately 2,100 patients with localized
high-risk prostate cancer.
Experts discuss the dual primary endpoints (pathological response and
metastasis-free survival), patient-relevant endpoints, side effects, and the
importance of patient selection, and contextualize the results in comparison to
radiotherapy studies.
By the end of this training session, you will be familiar with:
– the design and patient population of the PROTEUS study on the perioperative use of apalutamide + ADT in localized high-risk prostate cancer.
– the results for the dual primary endpoints—pathological complete response (pCR) and metastasis-free survival (MFS)—as well as their
– clinical significance.
– patient-relevant endpoints such as time to next therapy and testosterone recovery.
– the adverse effect profile of intensified hormone therapy, particularly the importance of cardiovascular risk assessment.
– the clinical interpretation of the data, the continuing necessity of local therapy, and the relevance of careful patient selection.
