Androgen receptor (AR) signalling remains critically important in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) as confirmed by recent phase III trials, showing a survival advantage for abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide (MDV3100). The antitumour activity of abiraterone and prednisolone in patients pre-treated with enzalutamide is as yet unknown.

We investigated the antitumour activity of abiraterone and prednisolone in patients with mCRPC who had progressed following treatment with docetaxel (Taxotere) and enzalutamide. Clinical data were retrospectively analysed for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and RECIST responses, clinical benefit and survival.

Thirty-eight patients were included in the analysis. The median age was 71 years (range 52–84); metastatic sites included bone disease in 37 patients (97%), lymph nodes in 15 patients (39%) and visceral disease in 10 patients (26%). Abiraterone was well tolerated. Three patients (8%) attained a PSA response, defined as ≥50% decline in PSA confirmed after ≥4 weeks, while seven patients (18%) had a ≥30% PSA decline. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 2.7 months (95% CI 2.3–4.1). Of the 12 patients assessable radiologically, only 1 (8%) attained a confirmed partial response.

Abiraterone and prednisolone have modest antitumour activities in patients with mCRPC pretreated with docetaxel and enzalutamide.