[Cabazitaxel after docetaxel: a new option in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer]

The management of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer is a real challenge. Indeed, after a first line chemotherapy with docetaxel, there was no standard because the treatments were ineffective. Today, several therapeutic options are available with the development of new therapies. Among them, cabazitaxel, semi-synthetic derivative of a natural taxoid, has been developed to its low recognition by the MDR system and power distribution including brain. This new chemotherapy was assessed in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer whose disease has progressed during or after docetaxel-based therapy. Treatment with cabazitaxel plus prednisone has improved overall survival of 2.4 months compared to mitoxantrone in the TROPIC phase III. However, hematologic toxicity may be limiting with a risk of febrile neutropenia; hematopoietic growth factors are advised in case of significant neutropenia. The cabazitaxel, Jevtana(®), has been approved in second line after docetaxel. Its position in relation to new types of hormone therapy, as abiraterone acetate, in the same indication requires further investigations, including predictive factors of response. Studies are on going in first line indication (compared to docetaxel) and associated to other new hormone therapies.