title: Feasibility of abiraterone acetate treatment in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Abiraterone acetate (AA), a selective inhibitor of the CYP17 enzyme, demonstrated a significant improvement in the treatment of patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The risk of endocrine side effects, mainly an increased adrenal mineralocorticoid production, could limit its use in patients with atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 85 metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients treated with AA at our institutions and identified six patients suffering from concomitant atrial fibrillation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In these six patients, the median duration of AA treatment was 11.5 months (range 4-22 months) with a biochemical response in three patients. No significant cardiac events were observed during the treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that AA may be safely administered in patients with atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, "F. Tappeiner" Hospital, Merano, Italy.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rauch
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Oncology, "F. Tappeiner" Hospital, Merano, Italy; Department of Internal Medicine V, Hematology and Oncology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Dominic
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, "F. Tappeiner" Hospital, Merano, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morra
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maines
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Caffo
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Oncology, "F. Tappeiner" Hospital, Merano, Italy.
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spizzo
keywords: Abiraterone acetate; Atrial fibrillation; Prostate cancer