A phase Ib/II trial of indomethacin and enzalutamide to treat castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

TPS394Background: Enzalutamide (Enza) and abiraterone (Abi) are commonly used to treat CRPC. Resistance is the most common cause of treatment failure. We discovered that a critical steroidogenic enzyme AKR1C3 was significantly elevated and contributed to intratumoral androgen synthesis in Enza-resistant prostate cancer cells and tumors. Overexpression of AKR1C3 induced androgen receptor variant 7 (AR-V7) expression, while inhibition of AKR1C3 downregulated AR-V7. We then discovered that indomethacin (Indo) inhibited AKR1C3 activation and sensitized resistant CRPC cells to Enza and Abi. One patient accidentally took Indo and achieved biochemical as well as radiological response of his prostate cancer. These findings prompted us to design a clinical trial to test the combination of Indo with Enza for the treatment of CRPC and to study the underlying mechanisms of action and resistance. Methods: This investigator-initiated single-arm Phase Ib/II trial enrolls patients with progressive CRPC after Abi, adequat...