Latent hypothyreosis as a clinical biomarker for therapy response under abiraterone acetate therapy

Isabel Heidegger1, Udo Nagele, Andreas Pircher

  • 1Associate Professor of Urology, Department of Urology, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstr. 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria. jasmin.bektic@uki.at.

Anticancer Research
|January 10, 2014
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) increase can predict response to abiraterone acetate (AA) therapy in castration-resistant prostate cancer. This finding suggests hypothyroidism may serve as a simple predictive biomarker for AA treatment effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Abiraterone acetate (AA) is an oral inhibitor of Steroid-17α-Hydroxylase used for castration-resistant prostate cancer.
  • Predictive biomarkers for AA therapy response are currently lacking.
  • Identifying such biomarkers is crucial for optimizing patient treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify a predictive biomarker for abiraterone acetate (AA) therapy response.
  • To investigate the relationship between thyroid parameters and AA treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Thyroid parameters were measured in 30 patients before and during AA therapy.
  • Paired and unpaired t-tests were employed for statistical analysis.

Main Results:

  • Responders showed a significant increase in thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) compared to non-responders (p=0.03).
  • In responders, 76.1% exhibited a significant TSH increase (p=0.001), indicating predictive value.
  • Non-responders did not display significant changes in TSH levels during AA therapy.

Conclusions:

  • An increase in TSH may serve as a simple predictive biomarker for abiraterone acetate (AA) therapy response.
  • Hypothyroidism could be a potential indicator of successful AA treatment in prostate cancer patients.