Dr. Oh on Abiraterone Versus Docetaxel in Prostate Cancer

William K. Oh, MD, chief, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, professor of medicine and urology, Mount Sinai Hospital, discusses the abiraterone acetate (Zytiga) versus docetaxel for patients with prostate cancer.

The use of abiraterone and docetaxel were established in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In that setting, there is conversation about combining those agents, explains Oh. Another area of discussion is determining the optimal sequencing but in CRPC, there is no clear answer.

Abiraterone was tested both prior to and after docetaxel, and had benefits in both situations. Some believe that abiraterone had greater benefit if given earlier based on data from the COU-AA-301 study. That preference may translate to the early use of abiraterone in these patients.

According to Oh, many oncologists have the bias to give chemotherapy upfront to patients that have an aggressive disease or are poorly differentiated. There is no current data to suggest that, but it is something to consider when determining a treatment strategy for patients.