Terbinafine for biochemically recurrent prostate cancer (TerbinaPro) - A phase II drug-repurposing Study

Many men with prostate cancer initially have a disease that is confined to the prostate (localized disease) and are treated with surgery or radiation. In the ten years following treatment, 20–50 percent of these men experience an increase in the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in their blood. In medical terminology, this is referred to as biochemical recurrence. This term means that prostate cancer cells are multiplying again in the body. It is often impossible to determine where these cells are located in the body, and patients do not experience any symptoms. Nevertheless, treatment is advisable to prevent the cancer cells from spreading further.

Most men with biochemical recurrence are offered therapy that suppresses male sex hormones. This often stops the growth of cancer cells for a long time. However, this treatment often has side effects, such as hot flashes, bone loss, and sexual dysfunction. Therefore, new treatment methods are being sought for men with biochemical recurrence.

Terbinafine is an active ingredient used to treat fungal infections of the nails and skin. Various study results suggest that terbinafine may also inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells. However, terbinafine has not yet been tested for cancer therapy in patients with prostate cancer. In our study, we want to investigate how terbinafine works in men whose prostate cancer shows signs of activity again after initial treatment.