Real-world outcomes and risk stratification in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer treated with upfront abiraterone acetate and docetaxel

Purpose We assessed clinical outcomes in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) treated with two upfront therapies. Methods The medical records of 301 patients with mCSPC treated with androgen deprivation therapy plus upfront abiraterone acetate (ABI) or docetaxel (DOC) between 2014 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to compare survival outcomes. Subgroup analyses of risk factors for second progression were conducted. Results A total of 95 patients received upfront DOC, whereas 206 received upfront ABI. After PSM, the ABI group had a significantly better castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC)-free survival than the DOC group [hazard ratio (HR), 0.53; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.34–0.82]. Second progression-free survival (PFS2) tended to be longer in the ABI group than in the DOC group, but the difference was not statistically significant (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.33–1.22). No significant difference in overall survival (OS) was found between the two groups (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.42–2.03). In the subgroup analysis, upfront ABI had significantly favorable PFS2 in patients aged ≥ 75 years compared with upfront DOC ( p = 0.038). Four risk factors for second progression (primary Gleason 5, liver metastasis, high serum alkaline phosphatase level, and high serum lactate dehydrogenase level) successfully stratified patients into three risk groups. Conclusions Upfront ABI provided better CRPC-free survival than upfront DOC; however, no significant differences in PFS2 or OS were observed between the two groups. Personalized management based on prognostic risk factors may benefit patients with mCSPC treated with upfront intensified therapies.