Corticosteroids in the management of prostate cancer: a critical review

Curr Treat Options Oncol. 2015 Feb;16(2):6. doi: 10.1007/s11864-014-0320-6.

Abstract

Corticosteroids have been used in the management of prostate cancer for over 30 years. Although daily oral corticosteroids have frequently used in conjunction with chemotherapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, their independent impact on survival is unclear. However, corticosteroids confer palliative benefits and are associated with objective responses and circulating tumor cell (CTC) and PSA declines in a small minority of patients, although toxicities such as osteoporosis and immunosuppression complicate long-term use. Following the demonstration of a palliative benefit for mitoxantrone combined with corticosteroids compared with corticosteroids alone, subsequent trials that demonstrated a benefit for first-line docetaxel over mitoxantrone, and second-line cabazitaxel over mitoxantrone, administered concurrent daily oral corticosteroids with all of these agents to maintain uniformity. Conversely, improved outcomes were demonstrated with docetaxel without corticosteroids for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. Daily oral corticosteroids are routinely combined with abiraterone to mitigate symptoms of mineralocorticoid excess. In contrast daily corticosteroids are not essential when administering enzalutamide or radium-223, and there is a concern of deleterious immune effects concurrently with sipuleucel-T. Given emerging evidence for promotion of resistance mechanisms, routine administration of daily oral corticosteroids in settings other than abiraterone administration and palliation of symptoms is probably not required.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use*
  • Androstenes / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Docetaxel
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mitoxantrone / administration & dosage
  • Palliative Care / methods*
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / mortality
  • Taxoids / administration & dosage
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Androstenes
  • Taxoids
  • Docetaxel
  • cabazitaxel
  • Mitoxantrone
  • abiraterone
  • Prednisone