The potential detrimental effect of corticosteroids in prostate cancer

Diagnosis of prostate cancer (PC) at local or regional stages is associated with an excellent prognosis [1]; however, patients with metastatic PC generally achieve only temporary disease control with hormonal therapy and they eventually develop disease progression despite castrate serum androgen levels. In the last years the number of drugs available for metastatic castration-resistant prostatic cancer (mCRPC), such as abiraterone, cabazitaxel, enzalutamide and sipuleucel-T, has rapidly increased [2]. Some of them, such as the classic chemotherapeutic docetaxel, require the concomitant use of corticosteroids. The large use of corticosteroids should lead physicians to question themselves regarding the long-term use of glucocorticoids and their role in PC and especially in advanced disease.

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