Clinical Research Directory

An Observational Study to Learn More About How Medicines That Block Male Hormones Are Used in People With Prostate Cancer in Australia

This is a retrospective, observational study looking at real-world prescription data in Australia. The study focuses on adult men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), a type of prostate cancer that has spread but still responds to hormone therapy. The main goal is to understand the treatment patterns, characteristics, and outcomes for patients who are receiving a class of drugs called Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitors (ARPIs), such as darolutamide, enzalutamide, apalutamide, or abiraterone. These drugs are often used in combination with standard Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT). The research will use two large, de-identified Australian prescription databases: the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the NostraData retail pharmacy dataset. By analyzing this information, the study aims to describe how these treatments are being used over time, including what proportion of patients receive doublet therapy (ARPI + ADT) or triplet therapy (ARPI + ADT + docetaxel chemotherapy). It will also describe the characteristics of the patients receiving these therapies, such as their age and location. Secondary goals include understanding how well patients adhere to their prescribed ARPI treatment and tracking any changes in medication dosage over time. Since the study uses existing, anonymized data, there is no direct contact with patients and individual patient consent is not required. The findings will provide valuable real-world insights into the use of ARPIs in Australia, which can help inform clinical practice and improve care for men with mHSPC.