Corticosteroids in the management of advanced prostate cancer

Corticosteroids have been widely used for decades in cancer therapy, predominantly due to their anti-inflammatory activity. In the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), corticosteroids play an important role both in the management of tumor-related symptoms, especially bone metastasis-related pain, and as concomitant treatment to counteract side effects associated with approved active prostatic anticancer agents such as docetaxel, cabazitaxel, and abiraterone acetate. In association with abiraterone acetate, low-dose corticosteroids (prednisone or prednisolone) reduce the mineralocorticoid side effects of abiraterone. In addition, corticosteroids may exert direct antitumoral activities, resulting in PSA decline.