New Drug Combination significantly Improves Prostate cancer Survival Rates
London – A novel pairing of two existing cancer drugs demonstrates a potential 40% increase in survival rates for men diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, according to research unveiled November 12, 2025, at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Madrid. The findings, stemming from the Phase III TRITON2 trial, offer a promising new treatment avenue for a disease affecting millions globally.
Prostate cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men worldwide.While treatments have advanced, many patients eventually develop resistance to standard therapies. This new combination therapy-docetaxel and olaparib-targets these resistant cancers by exploiting genetic vulnerabilities, specifically defects in DNA repair genes. The TRITON2 trial results indicate a substantial advancement in overall survival, offering renewed hope for patients facing a grim prognosis and prompting discussions about potential shifts in standard care protocols.
The TRITON2 trial, involving 385 men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who had previously received docetaxel, revealed a median overall survival of 16.2 months for those receiving both docetaxel and olaparib, compared to 11.5 months for those receiving docetaxel alone. This translates to a 40% reduction in the risk of death. Researchers emphasized the importance of genetic testing to identify patients most likely to benefit from the olaparib component of the treatment.
“These are clinically meaningful results that demonstrate a clear survival benefit for a subset of men with advanced prostate cancer,” stated Dr. Emma Hall, lead investigator of the TRITON2 trial and a consultant clinical oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation trust in London. “Identifying patients with DNA repair gene alterations is crucial to ensure they receive this potentially life-extending therapy.”
Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, works by blocking the repair of damaged DNA in cancer cells, making them more susceptible to chemotherapy. The trial focused on patients with alterations in genes involved in DNA repair, such as BRCA1/2 and other homologous recombination repair (HRR) genes.The study was funded by AstraZeneca and Merck, the manufacturers of olaparib and docetaxel, respectively.Further research is planned to explore the combination’s efficacy in earlier stages of the disease and to identify biomarkers that can predict treatment response.
