Circulating tumor cell count and overall survival in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer

In metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), new first-line combination therapie have enhanced overall survival (OS), but clinical outcomes for individual patients vary greatly and are difficult to predict. Secondary analysis of the phase 3 S1216 trial evaluated the prognostic value of circulating tumor cell (CTC) count at the start of treatment. Elevated baseline CTC count was associated with worse overall survival, progression-free survival and treatment response. Adding baseline CTC count to other known prognostic factors improved the prognostic performance. The authors conclude that these findings validate baseline CTC count as a prognostic biomarker in mHSPC.