Expression of the androgen receptor (AR) splice variants (AR-Vs) AR-V7 and ARv567es has been noted in circulating tumour cells (CTCs) in men with prostate cancer. Using a novel digital droplet PCR assay, AR-Vs were assessed in CTCs of patients receiving docetaxel or cabazitaxel in the TAXYNERGY trial. Overall, 67% of patients were AR-V7+, 42% were ARv567es+, 54% were double positive and 9% were double negative. PSA50 response rates were higher in variant-negative men than variant-positive men for both AR-Vs. Median progression-free survival was 12.02 months for AR-V7– men versus 8.48 months in AR-V7+ men, and 12.71 months for ARv567es– patients versus 7.29 months in ARv567es+ patients. Expression of AR-Vs in CTCs influences outcomes with taxane therapy, and absence of both variants is associated with maximal responses.
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Tagawa, S. T. et al. Expression of AR-V7 and ARv567es in circulating tumor cells correlates with outcomes to taxane therapy in men with metastatic prostate cancer treated in TAXYNERGY. Clin. Cancer Res. https://doi.org/10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-18-0320 (2018)
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Fenner, A. AR variants in CTCs correlate with outcomes. Nat Rev Urol 16, 146 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-018-0116-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41585-018-0116-8
