As genomic breakdown continues in prostate cancer metastases, PTEN, a tumor suppressor gene, and the protein it makes, is often lost. PTEN deletion is common even early (18% of prostatectomy samples). Without PTEN, the cancer cell signals proliferation with a chemical called AKT. Ipatasertib inhibits AKT. A large Phase 3 trial found that ipatasertib combined with abiraterone significantly increased radiographic progression-free survival by 2 months in men who were previously untreated, metastatic and castration-resistant with PTEN loss.
But ipatasertib is quite toxic -70% suffered serious or worse adverse events, and 21% discontinued taking it.
thelancet.com/journals/lanc...
For those who know they have PTEN-loss and who want to try a similar medicine while waiting for FDA approval, another AKT inhibitor, capivasertib, is currently recruiting in randomized clinical trials: