Is abiraterone chemotherapy? Are there many side effects?

  Abiraterone is an antiandrogenic drug that belongs to the category of endocrine therapy. It reduces testosterone levels by blocking key enzymes of androgen biosynthesis, in addition to testicular and adrenal sources of testosterone, and also reduces androgen synthesis in the internal microenvironment of prostate tumors. In international, randomized, double-blind clinical trials of chemotherapy-naïve and chemotherapy-naïve metastatic desmoplastic-resistant prostate cancer, abiraterone was shown to be effective, significantly prolonging overall survival and progression-free survival, reducing bone pain and improving quality of life compared to placebo+prednisone. Adverse effects were mild and commonly included: hypertension, hypokalemia, fluid retention (usually in the legs and feet), hot flashes, and diarrhea.  Our center is fortunate to be part of a domestic clinical trial of abiraterone. The study program for metastatic desmoresistant prostate cancer that has not received chemotherapy or failed chemotherapy has ended enrollment and subjects are being followed up. Preliminary results from the study show that abiraterone works well in most CRPC patients whether they have been treated with or without chemotherapy, reducing PSA by more than 50%, while It also improves the quality of life by greatly improving symptoms such as bone pain. The main side effect is hypokalemia, but from the patients in our center, hypokalemia may correlate more with fasting before chemotherapy, and the relationship with abiraterone is doubtful. In contrast, liver damage and fluid retention are uncommon.