Background: Abiraterone acetate (AA) is a potent, selective androgen (CYP17) biosynthesis inhibitor, which showed to improve overall survival (HR = 0.646) in mCRPC patients progressing after docetaxel. In this retrospective analysis we assessed the safety and efficacy of AA in patients affected with mCRPC progressing after chemotherapy, treated in the normal clinical practice, in several Italian Oncologic Units, after the approval of the drug from the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA).
Material and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of patients affected with mCRCP progressive after chemotherapy who received AA (1000 mg/d) plus prednisone (5 mg/twice daily). Pts were considered eligible if they had received docetaxel as prior chemotherapy. A total of 189 patients were included in the analysis. Main patient characteristics were: median age: 70 years (range 44–89), Gleason score >7: 84%; median PSA at AA start: 35 (range 0.36–2100); duration of prior hormonal therapy <12 vs ⩾12 months: 38 vs 62%; no. of metastatic sites: 1 vs ⩾2: 73 vs 27%; bone only 48%, presence of visceral disease 51%; symptomatic vs non-symptomatic: 53 vs 47%; median number of prior docetaxel courses: 6 (range 1–15); second-line cabazitaxel: 14%. Forty-four percent of patients received bisphosphonates during AA treatment.
Results: AA was well tolerated and no relevant toxicity were observed. After a median follow-up of 8.5 months (range 1–51) the median progression-free survival (PFS) and the median overall survival (OS) were 10 months (95% CI: 7–13) and 26 months (95% CI: 17–35) respectively. No differences in PFS and OS were found based on the response to docetaxel. Patients who received hormonal treatment for ⩾12 months had a statistically significant longer PFS (13 vs 7 months, p = 0.009) and OS (28 vs 17 months, p = 0.03 months). The median decrease in the PSA level >50% was observed in 36% of patients. Patients with only bone metastasis had a PFS of 13 (95% CI: 7.18) and OS 28 months (95% CI:16–40). Twelve patients (6%) presented a scheletal-related event (SRE).
Conclusions: The results achieved in this analysis although retrospective, confirms the activity and safety of AA in these subset of patients.