Sam McKeown is the Prostate Cancer Research Director at Movember, where he leads global initiatives to improve outcomes for men with advanced prostate cancer. With a strong background in oncology research, he has played a pivotal role in advancing personalized medicine, including the groundbreaking ENZA-p trial combining Lu-PSMA and enzalutamide. McKeown advocates for adaptive dosing strategies to tailor treatments and enhance patient quality of life. He has also contributed to testicular cancer research through international collaborations like the TIGER trial. McKeown’s leadership continues to drive innovative, life-extending therapies and meaningful change in men’s health through evidence-based, patient-centered research.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What is metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)?
Sam McKeown: This is prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (outside of the prostate) like bones, lungs, liver or lymph nodes and the cancer can no longer be slowed down by low testosterone levels (from using hormone therapy). It’s usually defined by a rising PSA level, worsening symptoms (like increased pelvic and back pain and feeling very tired) and scans showing growing cancer.
Jacobsen: Why is mCRPC incurable?
McKeown: There are currently no treatments available that will cure prostate cancer that has metastasised (spread to other parts of the body) and are no longer responding to hormone therapy.
Jacobsen: What does this mean for men?
McKeown: This means that the focus of treatment for men with a diagnosis of mCRPC is to slow down the progression (rate of spread) of the cancer, and improve the length of survival and quality of life.
Jacobsen: What did the ENZA-p study test drug combination show? (What were those medications?)
McKeown: ENZA-p tested a combination treatment (a radioactive therapy called Lu-PSMA plus a hormone therapy called enzalutamide) compared to enzalutamide alone. The study involved 162 participants, with half receiving the combination treatment and the other half receiving the standalone hormone therapy treatment.
Jacobsen: How does adaptive dosing approach personalize treatment for patients?
McKeown: The trial also tested an innovative world-first personalised treatment approach called ‘adaptive dosing,’ which uses imaging and blood results to identify patients who are responding to the treatment and determine those patients who were most likely to benefit from continued treatment, tailoring the treatment approach for each patient.
Jacobsen: What were the regarding survival rates and quality of life from the study?
McKeown: Participants who received the new treatment combination experienced longer and better lives in terms of increased overall survival and improved pain and fatigue than those who received the hormone therapy (enzalutamide) alone
Jacobsen: How might the ENZA-p study influence future treatment of metastatic prostate cancer?
McKeown: Studies such as this one allow this combination of treatments and adaptive dosing to be investigated earlier in a mCRPC diagnosis. The results of this trial may lead to further clinical trials in this space and allows for a personalised approach to medicine
Jacobsen: How has Movember helped with the development of Lu-PSMA and enzalutamide treatments?
McKeown: Movember is proud to have supported the development of Lu-PSMA and enzalutamide as standalone treatments since 2009 via funding of grants directly to clinical researchers and groups.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Sam.
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Scott Douglas Jacobsen is the publisher of In-Sight Publishing (ISBN: 978-1-0692343) and Editor-in-Chief of In-
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Photo by Ashkan Forouzani on Unsplash
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