A real-world comparison of docetaxel versus abiraterone acetate for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer

Cancer Med. 2021 Sep;10(18):6354-6364. doi: 10.1002/cam4.4184. Epub 2021 Aug 10.

Abstract

Background: Docetaxel (D) or secondary hormonal therapy (SHT) each combined with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) represent possible treatment options in males with metastasized hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). Real-world data comparing different protocols are lacking yet. Thus, our objective was to compare the efficacy and safety of abiraterone acetate (AA)+ADT versus D+ADT in mHSPC.

Methods: In a retrospective multicenter analysis including males with mHSPC treated with either of the aforementioned protocols, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival 1 (PFS1), and progression-free survival 2 (PFS2) were assessed for both cohorts. Median time to event was tested by Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. The Cox-proportional hazards model was used for univariate and multivariate regression analyses.

Results: Overall, 196 patients were included. The AA+ADT cohort had a longer PFS1 in the log-rank testing (23 vs. 13 mos., p < 0.001), a longer PFS2 (48 vs. 33 mos., p = 0.006), and longer OS (80 vs. 61 mos., p = 0.040). In the multivariate analyses AA+ADT outperformed D+ADT in terms of PFS1 (HR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.183-0.623; p = 0.001) and PFS2 (HR = 0.33 95% CI = 0.128-0.827; p = 0.018), respectively, while OS and toxicity rate were similar between both groups.

Conclusions: AA+ADT is mainly associated with a similar efficacy and overall toxicity rate as D+ADT. Further prospective research is required for validation of the clinical value of the observed benefit of AA+ADT for progression-free end-points.

Keywords: chemotherapy; hormonal therapy; hormone-sensitive; metastasis; prostate cancer.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Abiraterone Acetate / therapeutic use*
  • Aged
  • Androgen Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Docetaxel / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Progression-Free Survival
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / mortality
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Androgen Antagonists
  • Docetaxel
  • Abiraterone Acetate