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Castration-Resistant Prostatic CancerPhase 4NCT03016741

Cognitive Effects of Androgen Receptor Directed Therapies for Advanced Prostate Cancer

A Phase 4 study testing GnRH agonist/antagonist, Prednisone and Abiraterone Acetate in people with Castration-Resistant Prostatic Cancer and Metastatic Prostate Carcinoma, run by Northwestern University at 5 sites in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

This clinical trial studies cognitive function in men with prostate cancer treated with androgen receptor directed therapies such as abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide. The investigators use MRI imaging (non-invasive, non-contrast) to see whether there are changes in brain structure or activity related to treatment… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older, men only
What is being tested?
GnRH agonist/antagonist, Prednisone and Abiraterone Acetate
Type of treatment
Pill or oral medicine
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
100 participants
Where
5 sitesUnited States
Study dates
31 Mar 2017to Aug 2029
Phase
Phase 4
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • Men only
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Have diagnosis of prostate cancer and have received treatment with GnRH agonist or antagonist therapy for at least 1 month prior to enrollment.
  • Willing and able to complete survey questionnaires in English without assistance through the duration of the study. This stipulation is in place because not all of the proposed quality of life or cognitive tests are available or validated in other languages.
  • Age ≥ 18 years.
  • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document written in English that is approved by an institutional review board.
  • Have either newly diagnosed metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) or castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer (mCRPC) and eligible to undergo treatment with abiraterone acetate (mHSPC or mCRPC) or enzalutamide (mCRPC)
  • Patients may have received the following prior AR directed therapy prior to enrollment: bicalutamide, ketoconazole. Prior to enrollment, patients may have received treatment with abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide for no more than 14 days before completing baseline studies.
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  • Patients may have received chemotherapy for hormone-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer only, but it must not have lasted for more than 6 months. At least 12 months must have elapsed since completion of chemotherapy.
  • Patients may have received prior definitive radiation therapy or surgery. At least 60 days must have elapsed since completion of definitive radiation therapy or surgery and patient must have only grade 2 or less adverse effects at the time of registration. Enrollment during palliative radiation of ≤ 10 days, or radiation of ≤ 10 days during the duration of the study is allowed.
  • Patients must be able to take oral medication.

Who cannot join

  • Prior treatment with enzalutamide or abiraterone acetate for > 14 days prior to enrollment and completion of baseline tests.
  • Receipt of chemotherapy for prostate or other cancer within the past 12 months with residual cognitive deficits, or receipt of chemotherapy for mCRPC. Patients/physicians planning treatment with chemotherapy during the 12 month period of the investigation are also ineligible.
  • History of cognitive impairment or dysfunction, including a history of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, stroke with residual cognitive deficits, cognitive dysfunction related to alcohol or substance abuse, or cognitive dysfunction related to prior treatment for any cancer.
  • Patients with a seizure history, history of recurrent falls, or known brain metastases are excluded from this clinical trial because of their poor prognosis and because of their heightened risk of seizure or progressive cognitive and/or neurologic dysfunction that would confound the evaluation.
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, uncontrolled diabetes, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Class III and IV heart failure), unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations/substance abuse that would limit compliance with study requirements.
  • Patients with a "currently active" second malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancers are not eligible. Patients are not considered to have a "currently active" malignancy if they have completed all therapy and are now considered without evidence of disease for 1 year. Patients with cognitive dysfunction related to treatment of another malignancy, including a history of "chemo-brain", are ineligible.
  • Patients taking psychotropic medications or illicit drugs that may alter cognition, concentration, or behavior. Appropriate treatment by a licensed provider with medications for depression or anxiety, including but not limited to SSRIs, SNRIs, and standard dose benzodiazepines at a stable dose, is permitted

Trial locations and contacts

5 sites in 1 country.

5 sites in 1 country

United States5 sites

  • Northwestern University

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611

  • City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Los Angeles, California, 91010

  • University of Minnesota: Masonic Cancer Center

    Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455

  • Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

    Nashville, Tennessee, 37232

  • Tulane Cancer Center

    New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Cognitive Effects of Androgen Receptor (AR) Directed Therapies for Advanced Prostate Cancer

This clinical trial studies cognitive function in men with prostate cancer treated with androgen receptor directed therapies such as abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide. The investigators use MRI imaging (non-invasive, non-contrast) to see whether there are changes in brain structure or activity related to treatment that may be related to changes in cognitive function. The investigators are also looking for genetic variations that might make patients more or less sensitive to cognitive changes during treatment for prostate cancer.

Read the detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

  1. To compare cognitive function and associated mediators of cognitive function (quality of life, depression, pain, and fatigue) of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) or metastatic hormone sensitive prostate cancer during treatment with enzalutamide (mCRPC only) and abiraterone acetate (mHSPC or mCRPC).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

  1. To identify characteristics of men with mCRPC associated with change in cognitive function during treatment with androgen receptor (AR) directed therapy.

II. To compare quality of life and associated factors, including fatigue, pain, and depression, of men with mCRPC during treatment with enzalutamide and abiraterone acetate.

TERTIARY OBJECTIVES:

  1. To analyze whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may be associated with change in cognitive function during treatment with AR directed therapy.

II. To compare the functional and structural components of the brain over time and between the brains of men with mCRPC treated with enzalutamide or abiraterone acetate using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), functional MRI (fMRI), arterial spin labeling (ASL), and other advanced neuroimaging techniques.

OUTLINE: Treatment patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. Control patients receiving long term androgen deprivation therapy will be assessed with the same measures as a control arm.

ARM I: Patients receive standard of care treatment with gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist/antagonist therapy. Patients also receive abiraterone acetate orally (PO) and prednisone PO twice daily (BID) in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo cognitive assessment comprising of neuro-cognitive tests and assessments of overall quality of life, fatigue, pain, and symptoms at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Patients also undergo MRI program for 40 minutes comprising of DTI, fMRI, ASL MRI, Magnetization Prepared Rapid Gradient Echo (MPRAGE) MRI, Fluid attenuated Inversion Recovery (FLAIR) MRI, and blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) MRI at baseline and 3 months.

ARM II: Patients receive standard of care treatment with GnRH agonist/antagonist therapy. Patients also receive enzalutamide PO QD in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo cognitive assessment and MRI program as in Arm I.

ARM III: Patients receive standard of care treatment with GnRH agonist/antagonist therapy and undergo cognitive assessment and MRI program as in Arm I.

Being tested
GnRH agonist/antagonist, Prednisone, Abiraterone Acetate, Enzalutamide
Keywords
cognitive function, hormonal therapy, cancer survivorship, dementia, cognitive dysfunction, mild cognitive impairment
Medical subject headings
Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant, Prostatic Neoplasms, Dementia, Cognitive Dysfunction

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • GnRH agonist/antagonistBiological

    Given GnRH agonist/antagonist therapy

  • PrednisoneDrug

    Given by mouth

  • Abiraterone AcetateDrug

    Also called Zytiga

    Given by mouth

  • EnzalutamideDrug

    Also called Xtandi

    Given by mouth

Study groups in NCT03016741
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Arm I (abiraterone acetate, prednisone)OtherPatients receive standard of care treatment with GnRH agonist/antagonist therapy. Patients also receive abiraterone acetate PO and prednisone PO BID in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then undergo cognitive assessment comprising of neuro-cognitive tests and assessments of overall quality of life, fatigue, pain, and symptoms at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Patients also undergo MRI program for 40 minutes comprising of DTI, fMRI, ASL MRI, MPRAGE MRI, FLAIR MRI, and BOLD MRI at baseline and 3 months.
Receives: Biological: GnRH agonist/antagonist; Drug: Prednisone; Drug: Abiraterone Acetate
Arm II (enzalutamide)OtherPatients receive standard of care treatment with GnRH agonist/antagonist therapy. Patients also receive enzalutamide PO QD in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo cognitive assessment and MRI program as in Arm I.
Receives: Biological: GnRH agonist/antagonist; Drug: Enzalutamide

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Cognitive function defined by overall Cogstate score and Cogstate module scores for each domain

    Raw scores on each module of the Cogstate test will be converted to standardized scores (z-scores and T-scores) according to age and/or education-adjusted published normative data per the Cogstate protocol. Linear regressions will be utilized to assess the mean differences between groups at each time point after the baseline while adjusting for baseline scores.

    Measured: Measured at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months

Secondary outcomes (5)

  1. Quality of life assessed using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life questionnaire-C30 (EORTC QLQ C-30)

    The outcome measure for this questionnaire is the score as determined per standard scoring practices in the EORTC QLQ-C30 scoring manual. Mean scores from the EORTC QLQ-C30 survey instrument will be compared between groups at each time point, and changes in score will be assessed over time for each individual. Generalized linear regressions will be performed to estimate the differences between groups at each time point with adjustment for baseline and other covariates. GEE analysis will be used for the longitudinal data. Spearman p correlation coefficients between the standardized cognitive test scores and the mediators will be evaluated. Multivariable linear regressions for each time point will be performed to test the interactions between the group identity and each of the interested sociodemographic and clinical factors while adjusting for baseline and other covariates.

    Measured: Measured at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months

  2. Fatigue assessed using Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT- Fatigue)

    The outcome measure for this questionnaire is the score as determined per standard scoring practices with the FACIT-Fatigue scoring manual. Mean scores from the FACIT-Fatigue survey instrument will be compared between groups at each time point, and changes in score will be assessed over time for each individual. Generalized linear regressions will be performed to estimate the differences between groups at each time point with adjustment for baseline and other covariates. GEE analysis will be used for the longitudinal data. Spearman p correlation coefficients between the standardized cognitive test scores and the mediators will be evaluated. Multivariable linear regressions for each time point will be performed to test the interactions between the group identity and each of the interested sociodemographic and clinical factors while adjusting for baseline and other covariates

    Measured: Measured at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months

  3. Subjective measure of cognitive function by FACT-Cog

    The outcome measure for this questionnaire is the score as determined per standard scoring practices with the FACT-Cog scoring manual. Mean scores from the FACT-Cog survey instrument will be compared between groups at each time point, and changes in score will be assessed over time for each individual. Generalized linear regressions will be performed to estimate the differences between groups at each time point with adjustment for baseline and other covariates. GEE analysis will be used for the longitudinal data. Spearman p correlation coefficients between the standardized cognitive test scores and the mediators will be evaluated. Multivariable linear regressions for each time point will be performed to test the interactions between the group identity and each of the interested sociodemographic and clinical factors while adjusting for baseline and other covariates.

    Measured: Measured at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months

  4. Depression by Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)

    The outcome measure for this questionnaire is the score as determined per standard scoring practices with the PH-Q 9 scoring manual. Mean scores from the PHQ-9 survey instrument will be compared between groups at each time point, and changes in score will be assessed over time for each individual. Generalized linear regressions will be performed to estimate the differences between groups at each time point with adjustment for baseline and other covariates. GEE analysis will be used for the longitudinal data. Spearman p correlation coefficients between the standardized cognitive test scores and the mediators will be evaluated. Multivariable linear regressions for each time point will be performed to test the interactions between the group identity and each of the interested sociodemographic and clinical factors while adjusting for baseline and other covariates.

    Measured: Measured at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months

  5. Instrumental activities of daily living by Texas Functional Living Scale

    This measure will provide a score to represent patient's ability to complete daily tasks, and is a "direct assessment" based approach to measure instrumental activities of daily living.

    Measured: Measured at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted11 Jan 2017 (estimated)
  2. Study start31 Mar 2017
  3. Primary completion4 Jan 2023
  4. Study completionAug 2029 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Non-randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
100 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03016741
Sponsor's protocol ID
NU 17U19
Other IDs
STU00206082, NCI-2016-01795
Status last verified
Feb 2026
First submitted
1 Dec 2016
Last updated
24 Feb 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 4 study testing GnRH agonist/antagonist, Prednisone and Abiraterone Acetate in people with Castration-Resistant Prostatic Cancer and Metastatic Prostate Carcinoma, run by Northwestern University at 5 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 24 Feb 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 5 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 4 studies take place after a treatment is approved, to learn more about its long-term benefits and risks in everyday use.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Cognitive function defined by overall Cogstate score and Cogstate module scores for each domain (time frame: Measured at baseline, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03016741.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 24 Feb 2026.

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