What are cabozantinib and atezolizumab?
Cabozantinib is a tablet taken once a day by mouth. It is a type of drug called a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). TKIs such as cabozantinib may reduce or stop signals that tell cells to grow, divide, and spread. By blocking these signals, TKIs may slow the growth of tumors in people with some types of cancer.
Atezolizumab is a different type of drug called an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) and is given intravenously. ICIs may strengthen the activity of your immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
What are abiraterone, prednisone and enzalutamide?
Abiraterone acetate, prednisone and enzalutamide are medications that are widely used in prostate cancer and are taken orally. Abiraterone acetate is given in combination with prednisone and may help decrease the amount of certain hormones in the body.
Enzalutamide is a different type of medication, which blocks the effect of the hormone testosterone on prostate cancer. Without testosterone, the prostate cancer cells can’t grow.
Why take part in a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study. Clinical trials are conducted for many reasons, including to find new ways to treat a disease or condition. Your participation in this trial may help doctors learn more about your specific type of cancer and how to treat it.
If you are eligible to join the trial, you will be given an informed consent document. It describes:
- your rights as a participant
- what participation will look like for you
- any potential risks
Study staff will review the document with you in full before you sign it and enroll in the trial. This is to ensure that you understand the known risks, and that the study drugs may not work how researchers think it will. Sometimes there are unexpected problems, including serious side effects.
Talk to your healthcare provider, and to the study doctor, to find out more about the risks involved with participating in this trial.
You should know that, even if the study drugs do not work as planned, what is learned may be useful to future patients and researchers. The information learned may help doctors decide how to treat other patients.
What should I know about participation?
If you participate, you will be randomly assigned to one of the two arms of this clinical trial (Group A or Group B).
A healthcare team will take care of you throughout the trial. They will give you specific instructions to follow throughout your participation. Your team will also:
- monitor your health
- change or stop take the study drugs if necessary or if you aren’t feeling well
- collect information about your response to the study drugs
Your participation in a clinical trial may involve additional visits and procedures. These allow study doctors to monitor your safety, and how you are responding to the study drugs.
There is a risk of side effects. These will be fully explained to you by your study doctor.
You or your study doctor may choose to stop and/or end your participation at any time. This decision could be due to side effects, because you are not benefiting from participation, or for any reason whatsoever.
The study drugs may cause some side effects. Ask your study doctor for more information.
How do I talk to my doctor and get more information about participating?
To help start that conversation, download the discussion guide.
How long will my participation last?
The length of participation will depend on whether:
- your cancer gets worse
- you experience side effects and how badly they affect you
- you decide to stop participating in the study for any reason or withdraw your consent to participate