ClinicalTrials.gg
Active, not recruitingNCT03436654Updated Apr 27, 2026

Multi-arm Multi-modality Therapy for Very High Risk Localized and Low Volume Metastatic Prostatic Adenocarcinoma

A Phase 2 interventional study of Apalutamide and Abiraterone Acetate in Prostate Cancer, sponsored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Active, not recruiting at 11 sites in United States. Open to male participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-27.

Sponsored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
102
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Male
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to test if treatment with medications that reduce the male hormone level in the participant's body for a few months before surgery can shrink prostate cancer as much as possible, which might reduce the chances of the cancer coming back in the future. These treatments include a hormone injection given monthly or every three months and the study drugs, which include abiraterone acetate, prednisone, and apalutamide.

These medications are being used in combination with surgery and maybe radiotherapy because studies have shown that any single approach on its own is not sufficient to control or get rid of the cancer especially if they have high risk or aggressive features. The researchers hope to learn if combining the study drugs with surgery and radiation will get rid of the cancer from participants' prostates and reduce their prostate-specific antigen (PSA) to an undetectable level.

02

Conditions studied

  • Prostate Cancer

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Keywords

  • prostate cancer
  • apalutamide
  • abiraterone acetate
  • memorial sloan kettering cancer center
  • 17-646
03

In context

Prostatic Neoplasms

7,046 studies on the registry are indexed under Prostatic Neoplasms; 1,580 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 102 is above the median of 60 across 5,348 interventional studies indexed under Prostatic Neoplasms.

Browse Prostatic Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is the lead sponsor of 1,964 studies on the registry; 327 are open to participants now.

Of its 135 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 71 (53%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Male
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Willing and able to provide written and Authorization for Use and Release of Health and Research Study Information (HIPAA authorization) NOTE: HIPAA authorization may be either included in the informed consent or obtained separately
  • Male aged 18 years and above
  • Serum testosterone of ≥150 ng/dL (For Cohorts A and B1, testosterone level requirement is exempted if they are already on ADT prior to treatment start. For Cohort B2, subjects will be considered eligible if their testosterone is currently ≥150 ng/dl).
  • confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate, who meet the following criteria:

Cohort A

  • Clinically localized disease with histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate with either ≥3 positive cores or 2 positive cores if >1cm in length with at least 50% tumor content WITH
  • With Gleason score 8-10 OR
  • Gleason 4+3 with one of the following features:
  • PSA ≥ 20 mg/mL within 2 months prior to diagnostic
  • MRI suspicious for radiographic ≥T3 disease (if urologist deems tumor is resectable at baseline); defined as >75% probability of extracapsular extension or seminal vesicle invasion in the opinion of the reading radiologist.

OR

  • Gleason 3+4 or 4+3 and Oncotype DX Genomic Prostate Score of >40
  • With or without clinical N1 (size >1.5cm in the short axis) (Gleason score requirement can be omitted if node positive)

OR

Cohort B1

  • Newly diagnosed low-volume disease with either.
  • Bone metastases as documented by CT, MRI or radionuclide bone scan amenable to treatment with a maximum of 3 radiation isocenters* These lesions must have a structural correlate on CT or MRI to allow for adequate radiation targeting

    *(note:subjects with PET scans that show osseous metastases that would not be amenable to 3-isocenter radiation treatment are still eligible if conventional imaging shows osseous disease that can be treated with 3 radiation isocenters) And/or

  • Retroperitoneal nodes up to the level of the renal hilum with/without pelvic nodal metastasis >1.5cm in the short axis
  • NOTE: For Cohort B1, biopsy confirmation of metastases is strongly encouraged if safe and feasible, but not required

OR

Cohort B2 (Cohort B2 expansion)

  • Biochemically persistent/recurrent disease (defined as PSA >0.2) after RP ± extended pelvic nodal dissection with metastatic lesions identified on PSMAb PET scans
  • PSMA PET evidence of M1a/M1b disease that could be covered in up to 3 radiation plans (note that the isocenter for planned prostate bed/pelvic nodal irradiation does not count towards the 3 isocenter limit)
  • No radiographic evidence of local or regional recurrence on imaging in subjects with prior salvage radiation to these areas.
  • Prior salvage radiotherapy is permitted. Prior metastasis-directed radiation is not permitted.
  • Castration sensitive disease
  • Multiple lesions within one isocenter may be permitted upon review by the sponsor's radiation oncologist
  • performance status of ≤ 1
  • NOTE: For Cohort B2, biopsy confirmation of metastases is strongly encouraged if safe and feasible, but not required
  • Adequate bone marrow, hepatic and renal function, as evidenced within 28 days prior to treatment start by:

    • ≥ 1500/µl
    • ≥ 9g/dL
    • count ≥ 100,000/µl
    • Serum Creatinine ≥30 mL/min
    • Porassium within institutional normal range
    • Total ≤ 1.5 x (Note: In subjects with Gilbert\'s syndrome, if total bilirubin is >1.5 x ULN, measure direct and indirect bilirubin and if direct bilirubin is ≤ 1.5 x ULN, subject may be eligible)
    • Albumin ≥ 3.0 g/dL
    • (AST) ≤ 2.5 x ULN
    • SGPT (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN
  • Subjects must have a clinical T stage documented by the treating urologist/medical oncologist within 90 days prior to treatment start using the 7th edition AJCC staging system, recorded as the urologist\'s/medical oncologist\'s best clinical assessment of extent of local disease by digital rectal examination and/or available imaging studies such as transrectral ultrasound, CT scan, and/or MRI. Applicable to Cohorts A and B1 only.
  • The primary tumor must be considered unresectable by RP based on initial imaging with gross negative margins as determined by a urologist and documented as such. (Applicable to Cohorts A and B1 only)
  • Recovery of reversible effects of prior surgery (i.e., incisional pain, wound drainage) to Grade ≤1, and at least 4 weeks from prior surgery to treatment start. (biopsy excluded)
  • Able to swallow the study drug(s) whole as a tablet
  • Willing to take abiraterone acetate on an empty stomach; no food should be consumed at least one hour before and for at least two hours after the dose of abiraterone acetate is taken (Not applicable to Cohort B2 expansion) (Note: apalutamide does not have to be taken on an empty stomach.)
  • Agrees to use a condom (even men with vasectomies) and another effective method of if he is having sex with a woman of or agrees to use a condom if he is having sex with a woman who is pregnant while on study drug and for 3 months following the last dose of study drug. Must also agree not to donate sperm during the study and for 3 months after receiving the last dose of study drug.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Prior treatment for prostate cancer including prior surgery (excluding TURP and subjects with rising PSA after RP), pelvic lymph node dissection, and/or radiation therapy unless the subject is eligible for Cohort B2. (Applicable to cohorts A and B1 only).
  • Prior cytotoxic chemotherapy or biologic therapy for prostate cancer
  • Up to 2 months of prior ADT with GnRH antagonist/agonist at time of treatment start. Bicalutamide given for ≤ 12 months at the time of registration as flare prevention is allowed. For Cohort B2, prior ADT and/or first generation anti-androgen treatment in the (neo) and/or salvage setting in conjunction with radiation or surgery is allowed provided last effective dose of ADT and/or first generation anti-androgen is > 12 months prior to the on treatment date and total duration of prior therapy is 12 months or lesser, and their testosterone is currently >150ng/dL.
  • Prior exposure to ketoconazole (systemic), abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide or other agents targeting the AR signaling pathway
  • Concomitant therapy with any other experimental drug
  • Known brain, liver, lung or other visceral (except for retroperitoneal and/or pelvic nodal metastases as per inclusion criteria)
  • Prior prostate cancer metastasis-directed therapies
  • Currently active second or past history of malignancies diagnosed within the last 2 years that require active therapy and/or in remission with of \< 5 years, with the exception of resected non-melanoma skin cancers, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer, state I head and neck cancer, or stage I colorectal cancer
  • Significant medical condition other than cancer, that would prevent consistent and compliant participation in the study that would, in the opinion of the investigator, make this protocol unreasonably hazardous including but not limited to:

    • Any medical condition requiring a higher dose of than 10mg prednisone/prednisolone once daily
    • Active infection requiring systemic therapy
    • History of gastrointestinal disordered (medical disorders or extensive surgery) that may interfere with the absorption of the study agents
    • Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP ≥ 160 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 95 mmHg); subjects with a history of hypertension are allowed provided blood pressure is controlled by anti-hypertensive treatment (systolic BP \< 160 mmHg or diastolic BP \<95 mmHg)
    • Active or symptomatic viral hepatitis of chronic liver disease
    • Acute or chronic or infection. (Hepatitis B and C testing are not mandatory)
    • Presence of hepatitis B surface antibody is acceptable

(HIV)-positive subjects with 1 or more of the following:

Not receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy. A change in anti-retroviral therapy within 6 months of the start of screening (except if, after consultation with the principal investigator (PI) / sponsor, a change is made to avoid a potential drug-drug interaction with the study drug).

Receiving anti-retroviral therapy that may interfere with the study drug(s) (consult the PI / sponsor for review of medication prior to enrollment).

\< 350 cell/mm\^3 at screening. An acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-defining opportunistic infection within 6 months of the start of screening.

  • History of pituitary or adrenal dysfunction
  • History of hypogonadism
  • heart disease as evidenced by myocardial infarction, or arterial thrombotic events in the past 6 months, severe or unstable angina, or (NYHA) Class III or IV heart disease or cardiac measurement of \<50% at baseline, or clinically significant ventricular arrhythmias within 6 months prior to treatment start.
  • History of seizure or any condition that may predispose to seizure (including, but not limited to prior stroke, or loss of consciousness \</= 1 year prior to treatment start; brain arteriovenous malformation; or intracranial masses such as schawnnomas and meningiomas that are causing edema or mass effect)
  • Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
  • History of inflammatory bowel disease
  • Baseline moderate and severe hepatic impairment ( Class B \& C)

    • Use of any prohibited concomitant medications within 14 days prior to treatment start, or use of prohibited concomitant medication listed in section 7.9.1 within the outlined windows NOTE: Medications known to lower the seizure threshold must be discontinued or substituted at least 4 weeks prior to treatment start
    • Pre-existing condition that warrants long-term corticosteroid use in excess of 10 mg prednisone/prednisolone daily
    • Known allergies, or intolerance to apalutamide, abiraterone acetate, prednisone, or GnRH agonist or GnRH antagonist (Allergies or hypersensitivity to abiraterone and/or prednisone would not be applicable to subjects enrolling to B2 expansion).
    • Administration of an therapeutic within 30 days of treatment start
    • Patients that cannot tolerate MRI
    • Any condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in this trial
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(29)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Histologically or cytologically confirmed

The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).

Your pathology report is the document that shows this.

Biopsy and archival tissue

A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.

Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.

Metastases

Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.

ECOG performance status

A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.

0
Fully active, no restrictions.
1
Limited in strenuous activity, but walking and able to do light work, such as housework or office work.
2
Walking and able to look after yourself, but unable to work; up and about more than half of waking hours.
3
Able to look after yourself only in part; in bed or a chair more than half of waking hours.
4
Unable to look after yourself at all; in bed or a chair all day.

Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)

The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.

It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)

GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².

Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Adjuvant and neoadjuvant

Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment (usually surgery), often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant treatment is given after it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

Life expectancy

The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Hepatitis C tests

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.

After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

CD4 count

The number of CD4 cells, a type of white blood cell, in a given amount of blood. It is used to follow how well the immune system is doing in HIV.

Clinically significant

Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.

NYHA class (heart failure)

The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.

I
No limits: ordinary activity causes no undue tiredness or breathlessness.
II
Slight limits: comfortable at rest, ordinary activity causes symptoms.
III
Marked limits: comfortable at rest, less than ordinary activity causes symptoms.
IV
Symptoms even at rest; any activity makes them worse.

Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.

LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction)

The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.

TIA (transient ischaemic attack)

A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.

Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.

Child-Pugh class

A score of how well the liver works in people with liver disease such as cirrhosis: class A is mild, B moderate and C severe.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
102 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Cohort A, Treatment 1 (ADT + Apalutamide Only)

    Drug: Apalutamide · Drug: GnRH agonist/antagonist

  • Experimental
    Cohort A, Treatment 2 (ADT + Apalutamide + Abiraterone Acetate + Prednisone)

    This arm is no longer being assigned to subjects.

    Drug: Apalutamide · Drug: Abiraterone Acetate · Drug: Prednisone · Drug: GnRH agonist/antagonist

  • Experimental
    Cohort B1, Treatment 1 (ADT + Apalutamide Only)

    Drug: Apalutamide · Drug: Prednisone

  • Experimental
    Cohort B1, Treatment 2 (ADT + Apalutamide + Abiraterone Acetate + Prednisone)

    Drug: Apalutamide · Drug: Abiraterone Acetate · Drug: Prednisone · Drug: GnRH agonist/antagonist

  • Experimental
    Cohort B2, Treatment 1 (ADT + Apalutamide Only)

    Drug: Apalutamide · Drug: Prednisone

  • Experimental
    Cohort B2, Treatment 2 (ADT + Apalutamide + Abiraterone Acetate + Prednisone)

    Drug: Apalutamide · Drug: Abiraterone Acetate · Drug: Prednisone · Drug: GnRH agonist/antagonist

  • Experimental
    B2 Expansion, Treatment 1 (ADT + Apalutamide Only)

    Drug: Apalutamide · Drug: Prednisone

Interventions

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Pathologic Response (pCR + MRD) in the RP specimen

    The primary efficacy measure of pathological complete response (pCR) and minimal residual disease (MRD) is defined as the less than or equal to 5 mm of morphologically identifiable carcinoma in the RP specimen.

    Time frame: 6 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Rate of undetectable PSA level following Testosterone recovery at 24 months from the time of randomization

    Proportion of patients at 24 months post start of treatment who have an undetectable PSA (defined as \< 0.1 ng/mL) and Testosterone Recovery (T\>150 ng/dL)

    Time frame: 24 months

  2. Time to and frequency of testosterone recovery

    Testosterone rates will be measured at 12 and 24 months from the start of randomization.

    Time frame: 24 months

07

Study locations

11 sites
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Undecided

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 27, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03436654
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 19, 2018
Start date
Jun 21, 2018
Primary completion
Mar 16, 2026
Completion
Feb 14, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Apr 27, 2026

Study contacts

Matthew Dallos, MD
principal investigator · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

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Studies of the drugs tested here: Abiraterone Acetate · Prednisone · Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Analog · Antagonist

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