Abiraterone Acetate in Patients With Castration-Resistant, Androgen Receptor-Expressing Salivary Gland Cancer: A Phase II Trial

J Clin Oncol. 2021 Dec 20;39(36):4061-4068. doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.00468. Epub 2021 Oct 1.

Abstract

Purpose: The activity of androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in androgen receptor-positive (AR+) salivary gland carcinomas (SGCs) has been established in the past few years. Second-line treatment in castration-resistant patients is still unknown. We investigated the activity of abiraterone acetate as second-line treatment in ADT-resistant, AR+ patients with SGC.

Methods: This was a single-institution phase II trial. A two-stage Simon's design was applied. The primary end point was confirmed objective response rate. Secondary end points were disease control rate, safety, progression-free survival, and overall survival. Patients were eligible when the following criteria were met: histologic diagnosis of AR-overexpressing SGC, measurable disease according to RECIST 1.1, clinical and/or radiologic progression on ADT, suppressed serum testosterone, and no limits for the number of previous chemotherapy lines. All patients received abiraterone 1 g daily plus prednisone 10 mg and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist until progression or unacceptable toxicities.

Results: From 2015 to 2019, 24 AR+ patients with SGC (23 men; median age 65.8 years) were treated within the study. The overall response rate was 21% (5 partial responses), with a disease control rate of 62.5%. The median duration of response was 5.82 months. Median progression-free survival was 3.65 months (95% CI, 1.94 to 5.89), and median overall survival was 22.47 months (95% CI, 6.74 to not reached). Objective response to previous ADT did not correlate with the activity of abiraterone. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded in 22 cases (92%) with grade 3 AEs in six patients (25%): fatigue (two), flushing (one), supraventricular tachycardia (one), and two non-drug-related AEs. No drug-related grade 4 or 5 AEs were recorded.

Conclusion: Abiraterone plus luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist is active and safe as a second-line option in AR-expressing, castration-resistant SGC.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02867852.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abiraterone Acetate / pharmacology
  • Abiraterone Acetate / therapeutic use*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Salivary Gland Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Salivary Gland Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Abiraterone Acetate

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02867852