Relugolix in Patients With High-risk, Localized or Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer Who Are Candidates for Radical Prostatectomy.
Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer
What this study involves
The registry does not currently label this study as recruiting. Ask about its status before planning a screening visit.
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Age range
- 18 years - 99 years
- Sex eligible
- Male
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Participants
- 268 Estimated
These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.
About the research
This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy of Relugolix for 3 months before radical prostatectomy + lymph node dissection followed by 6 months Relugolix versus radical prostatectomy + lymphnode dissection followed by 6 months Relugolix. Relugolix is an oral highly selective LHRH antagonist given daily that has been shown to achieve androgen deprivation in both phase I and phase II trials and was finally approved in the phase III HERO trial.
Relugolix is approved in the United States (US) and Europe for the treatment of advanced prostate cancer.
The HERO trial enrolled patients with castration sensitive prostate cancer and compared their sustained castration rate at 48weeks to leuprolide. While the safety profile of the 2 agents was similar, relugolix achieved castrate levels of testosterone faster and provided a higher overall rate of castration. In the phase III HERO trial, relugolix demonstrated suppression of testosterone concentrations to castration levels in 96.7% of patients from Day 29 through 48 weeks, which was superior to leuprolide and resulted in a 54% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Relugolix also demonstrated superior efficacy to leuprolide for key secondary endpoints, including the cumulative probability of testosterone suppression to castrate levels (\< 50 ng/dL) on day 4 and on day 15, PSA response (\> 50% decrease) at day 15 with confirmation at day 29, the cumulative probability of testosterone suppression to profound castrate levels (\< 20 ng/dL) on day 15, and mean FSH level at the end of week 24. Testosterone recovery was investigated in a subgroup of patients (n = 184): 54% of relugolix recipients versus 3% of leuprolide recipients had testosterone recovery to ≥ 280 ng/dL 90 days after completing 48 weeks of treatment.Relugolix was generally well tolerated in men with prostate cancer, with most adverse events being consistent with physiologic effects of testosterone suppression. Most adverse events were of grade 1 or 2 severity. In a phase II study comparing relugolix to degarelix the global health status, as assessed by EORTC-QLQ-C30, and sexual activity and hormonal treatment-related symptoms, as assessed by the EORTC-QLQ-PR25, were negatively affected during treatment in both groups. Within 12 wk after treatment discontinuation, sexual activity scores improved by a mean of 12.1 for relugolix and 6.6 for degarelix and hormonal treatment-related symptoms changed by a mean of -5.0 and -1, respectively. Similarly, AMS total and subscale scores (sexual, psychological, and somatic) worsened during treatment in both groups but after treatment discontinuation, the mean percentage change in AMS total scores was -15% in the relugolix group and -2.9% in the degarelix group.
The fast testosterone recovery with relugolix was associated with a rapid improvement in a range of castration-related symptoms on QoL measures.
Building upon the practice-changing evidence established by the PROTEUS trial, evaluating oral Relugolix as a perioperative backbone in high-risk patients candidate for radical prostatectomy offers distinct pharmacological, safety, and patient-centered advantages. While PROTEUS validated the clinical benefit of perioperative androgen receptor pathway modulation, Relugolix provides rapid and profound testosterone suppression without an initial surge, paired with a significantly lower cardiovascular risk profile and markedly accelerated post-treatment testosterone and Quality of Life (QoL) recovery compared to standard LHRH agonists. In the HEROIC trial, testing a 3-month neoadjuvant Relugolix induction phase prior to surgery followed by 6 months of adjuvant Relugolix (Arm A) versus immediate surgery followed by 6 months of adjuvant Relugolix (Arm B) addresses whether an all-oral GnRH antagonist strategy can reproduce perioperative oncological downstaging and improve Biochemical Recurrence-Free Survival (bRFS) while optimizing cardiovascular safety and patient recovery.
Who may be able to participate?
The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male who are at least 18 Years on the day of signing informed consent;
- Candidate for radical prostatectomy (RP);
- Adequate organ function (hepatic, renal, hematologic and cerebral) determined at the discretion of the treating physician;
- Eastern Cooperative oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status Score of 0 or 1
- High risk PCa \[biopsy Gleason score 8-10 {ISUP GG 4-5}, PSA \>20 ng/ml, cT2c \[MRI based\], and/or cN1 disease) or non onrgan confined disease defined as cT3-4 and/or cN + \[MRI based\] any ISUP grade any PSA and were amenable to RP + extended pelvic lymph node dissection (ePLND). A minimun score of Gleason 7(4+3) will be allowed.
- Staging with PSMA PET/CT (systemic and local) and mpMRI of the prostate and pelvis (as mandatory prebiopsy staging procedure).
Exclusion Criteria:
- History or presence of soft tissue/bone metastasis or metastasis in distant lymph nodes (pelvic lymph nodes below the iliac bifurcation that are less than (\<) 2 centimetres (cm) in diameter \[short axis\] either radiographically or pathologically are allowed.)
- History of bilateral orchiectomy
- Prior or current radiation therapy for treatment of prostate cancer
- Received an investigational intervention ≤ 4 weeks before the planned first dose of study intervention
- History of seizure or condition that may predispose to seizure (including, but not limited to prior stroke, transient ischemic attack or loss of consciousness ≤1 year prior to randomization; brain arteriovenous malformation; or intracranial masses such as schwannomas and meningiomas that are causing edema or mass effect)
- Active or symptomatic viral hepatitis or chronic liver disease or HIV
- History of pituitary or adrenal dysfunction
- Clinically significant heart disease as evidenced by myocardial infarction, or arterial thrombotic events in the past 6 months, severe or unstable angina, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II-IV heart disease or cardiac ejection fraction measurement of \<50% at baseline
- Other malignancy
- Any condition, which, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in this trial
- Gastrointestinal conditions affecting Absorption
- Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients of the study medication
- Any psychological, cognitive, familial, sociological or geographical condition that, in the investigator's opinion, compromises the patient's ability to understand the patient information, to give informed consent or to comply with the study protocol
- Participation in another interventional clinical trial during this trial or within 4 weeks before entry into this trial. There may be exceptions at the discretion of the (coordinating) investigator
- Any clinical contraindication to experimental drug adoption as per physician discretion
Treatment, groups and participation
The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.
- Assignment
- Random assignment
- Masking
- No masking
Arm A (Experimental)
Relugolix orally (loading dose of 360 mg on Day 1, followed by 120 mg once daily) as neoadjuvant therapy for 3 months prior to radical prostatectomy (RP) with extended pelvic lymphadenectomy (ePLND). Subsequently, post-operative adjuvant treatment with Relugolix for 6 months (loading dose 360 mg, followed by 120 mg/day).
Drug: Relugolix-Neoadjuvant treatment
Arm B (Control)
Immediate undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP) with extended pelvic lymphadenectomy (ePLND), followed by 6 months of post-operative adjuvant treatment with oral Relugolix (loading dose of 360 mg on Day 1, followed by 120 mg once daily).
Drug: Relugolix-Adjuvant treatment
Relugolix-Neoadjuvant treatment DRUG
The perioperative treatment will be based on 3 months of Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) with relugolix 120 mg followed by radical prostatectomy (RP) and lymph node dissection.
The Relugolix administration will be based on a loading dose of 360 mg, corresponding on 3 tablets, on the first day followed by a 120 mg (one tablet) dose taken once daily at approximately the same time each day.
Relugolix can be taken with or without food. Tablets should be taken with some liquid as needed and should be swallowed whole.
Relugolix-Adjuvant treatment DRUG
Patients allocated on control arm will receive only postoperative treatment. Postoperative treatment will be based on 6 months of relugolix 120 mg after RP.
The Relugolix administration will be based on a loading dose of 360 mg, corresponding on 3 tablets, on the first day, followed by a 120 mg (one tablet) dose taken once daily at approximately the same time each day.
Relugolix can be taken with or without food. Tablets should be taken with some liquid as needed and should be swallowed whole.
What researchers are measuring
Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.
Primary measures
Biochemical Recurrence-Free Survival (bRFS)
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
Biochemical Recurrence-Free Survival (bRFS) defined as the time from randomization to the first documented evidence of biochemical recurrence, measured as:
- A confirmed serum PSA value ≥ 0.2 ng/mL after radical prostatectomy (two consecutive determinations at least 3 weeks apart), or
- The clinical decision to initiate salvage therapy (radiotherapy or systemic therapy) for a documented biochemical recurrence (any non-protocol defined treatment)
- Any new evidence of metastatic disease on bone or PSMA PET/mpMRI \[imaging modalities as per physician or multidisciplinary team decision's discretion\]
- Any local recurrence in the prostate bed, as determined by PSMA PET/ mpMRI; \[imaging modalities as per physician or multidisciplinary team decision's discretion\].
Patients without an event will be censored at the date of their last PSA assessment.
Secondary measures
Metastasis-Free Survival (MFS)
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
MFS will be defined as the time from randomization to the first radiological evidence of distant metastasis (confirmed by blinded independent central review, BICR) or death from any cause.
Pathological Complete Response (pCR)
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
pCR will be defined as no residual tumor ypT0 detected in the prostatectomy specimen, as assessed by a pathology BICR);
Minimal Residual Disease (MRD)
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
MRD will be defined as presence of residual tumor ≤ 5 mm in maximal cross-sectional dimension provided it is confined to the prostate, i.e. ypT2 or lower. The primary pathology assessment will be performed by a blinded independent central review (BICR).
Overall Survival (OS)
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
Overall Survival (OS) will be defined as time from randomization to death from any cause
Time to Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC)
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
Time to Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC) will be evaluated as time from randomization to evidence of disease progression at CRPC
Time to First Salvage Therapy (Radiotherapy or systemic)
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
Time to First Salvage Therapy will be evaluated as time from randomization to the start date of the first systemic therapy or radiotherapy (RT)
Testosterone suppression and recovery
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
Testosterone suppression and recovery will be defined as:
o Proportion of patients achieving testosterone ≤ 50 ng/dL and ≤ 20 ng/dL during treatment.
Testosterone suppression and recovery
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
Testosterone suppression and recovery will be defined as:
o Time to testosterone recovery (≥ 280 ng/dL) after treatment discontinuation.
PSA kinetics
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
PSA kinetics will be evaluated as proportion of patients achieving ≥ 90% PSA reduction from baseline, and PSA \< 0.2 ng/mL at Week 25.
Quality of Life (QoL)
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
Quality of Life (QoL) will be assessed by EORTC-QLQ-C30 domain scores at ICF signing, at the end of perioperative period (for Arm A), at 15 days from RP; 4 weeks post-RP; 12 weeks post-RP; End Of Treatment; 12 weeks post-EOT; 6 months post-EOT; 12 months post-EOT
Quality of Life (QoL)
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
Quality of Life (QoL) will be assessed by EORTC-QLQ-PR25 domain scores at ICF signing, at the end of perioperative period (for Arm A), at 15 days from RP; 4 weeks post-RP; 12 weeks post-RP; End Of Treatment; 12 weeks post-EOT; 6 months post-EOT; 12 months post-EOT
Safety and tolerability of Relugolix
Time frame: Through study completion, an average of 3 years
Safety and tolerability during the treatment will be recorded and graded according to the NCI-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v.5. Grade refers to the severity of the adverse event. A grading (severity) scale is provided for each adverse event term. The CTCAE displays Grades 1 through 5 with unique clinical descriptions of severity for each AE. Safety and tolerability will be evaluated also as laboratory, ECG abnormalities and cardiovascular events (MACE).
Review the complete result tables and limitations in the official record.
Open official results ↗Research locations (12)
The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.
12 locations
Istituto Oncologico VenetoPadova, Italy/Padova, ItalyStatus unknown
IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico di Sant'OrsolaBologna, ItalyStatus unknown
Humanitas GavazzeniMilan, ItalyStatus unknown
Irccs Humanitas Research HospitalMilan, ItalyStatus unknown
IRCCS San RaffaeleMilan, ItalyStatus unknown
Istituto Europeo di Oncologia (IEO)Milan, ItalyStatus unknown
Fondazione Istituto Giglio - CefalùPalermo, ItalyStatus unknown
Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria PisanaPisa, ItalyStatus unknown
Ospedale Santa Maria delle Croci - RavennaRavenna, ItalyStatus unknown
Policlinico Universitario Campus Biomedico RomaRoma, ItalyStatus unknown
Azienda Sanitaria Universitaria Friuli Centrale (ASU FC) UDUdine, ItalyStatus unknown
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata Verona (AOUI VR)Verona, ItalyStatus unknown
Study team and timeline
- Lead sponsor
- Istituto Oncologico Veneto IRCCS
- Study start
- Jan 31, 2027 Estimated
- Primary completion
- Jan 31, 2030 Estimated
- Study completion
- Dec 29, 2031 Estimated
- First posted
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
- Last updated
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
Official study contacts
Official study title
A Randomized, Controlled, Phase 3 Study of Relugolix in Patients With High-risk, Localized or Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer Who Are Candidates for Radical Prostatectomy.
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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Information is submitted by sponsors and investigators. NLM does not approve the safety or science of all listed studies. Registry disclaimer.
Retrieved: Nov 12, 2026 · Last registry update: Nov 10, 2026
