Effect of dutasteride in men receiving intermittent androgen ablation therapy: The AVIAS trial

Introduction: We studied the effect of dutasteride on the length of the off-treatment period in prostate cancer patients on intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) therapy. Methods: We conducted a randomized, placebo-controlled Phase II trial in men with localized prostate cancer and a rising prostatespecific antigen (PSA) level post-primary treatment. Patients were randomized to dutasteride (0.5 mg/day) or placebo. All patients received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), which was stopped at month 9 if the PSA level was <1.0 ng/mL. ADT was resumed when PSA increased to .5.0 ng/mL. End points included time off treatment, PSA nadir after 9 months of ADT, serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels, and time to castrate-resistant prostate cancer (rising PSA while testosterone levels remain <50 ng/mL). Results: There were 87 evaluable patients: 49 dutasteride, 38 placebo. In total, 80 patients completed one treatment cycle: 45 dutasteride, 35 placebo. The median time off treatment for patients reaching .5 ng/mL was 18.6 and 16.7 months for dutasteride and placebo, respectively (p = 0.7600). The median PSA nadir at 9 months was 0.1 and 0.075 ng/mL, respectively (p = 0.4486). There were no cases of androgen-independent prostate cancer. Our study limitations include its short duration with only one treatment cycle evaluated. Conclusions: This small-scale Phase II randomized controlled trial showed no benefit to the addition of dutasteride to an IAD regimen.