Art Cain, a member of the PHEN Survivor Network from Atlanta, Georgia, shared his life-changing experience participating in the PANTHER clinical trial. Diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2015 and experiencing a recurrence in 2019, Cain’s journey led him to the PANTHER trial through a fortuitous meeting with Dr. Daniel George from the Duke Cancer Institute at PHEN’s 2019 Annual African American Prostate Cancer Disparity Summit in Washington, D.C.
“After talking with Dr. George and the folks at Duke, I decided to enter the PANTHER clinical trial,” Art explained. Entering the trial at the end of 2019 with a PSA recurrence of about 6, his level became undetectable after a year in the trial, a status he maintains today, highlighting the life-saving potential of this trial.
Art Cain’s experience clearly illustrates that prostate cancer patients diagnosed with advanced disease must understand that there is hope with treatment through prostate cancer clinical trials. The PANTHER clinical trial focused on a combination drug therapy consisting of apalutamide and abiraterone acetate plus prednisone. This regimen was shown to benefit Black men more significantly than White men.
About the PANTHER Clinical Trial
The PANTHER study addresses the longstanding gap in clinical trial participation for Black patients who are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer. The PANTHER study investigates the effects of a novel combination of hormonal therapies, apalutamide and abiraterone, in castrate-resistant prostate cancer. Intriguingly, the study reveals that Black patients exhibit significantly longer radiographic progression-free survival, time to PSA progression, and overall survival rates compared to their white counterparts. While the cause remains unknown, these findings suggest potential biological differences in the way Black patients develop castrate-resistant prostate cancer. These observations suggest and highlight the critical need for diversity in clinical trials, urging active patient recruitment and advocacy, in order to understand potential racial disparities in treatment responses.
Dr. George emphasizes proactive inclusion. “We absolutely have to be intentional in our inclusion of Black patients in our clinical trials,” he stated, advocating for an active engagement strategy to ensure diverse patient enrollment and, thereby, enhancing the relevance and applicability of trial outcomes. Click here for more information about the PANTHER clinical trial.
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