Circulating tumor cell quantification during abiraterone plus prednisone therapy may estimate survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients

Purpose Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) predict survival in response to different interventions in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients. This study aimed to explore the dynamic change in CTCs during abiraterone plus prednisone therapy and its optimal threshold for prognostication in mCRPC patients. Methods CTCs in blood samples from mCRPC patients ( N = 98) at baseline and in the 2nd month after abiraterone plus prednisone treatment initiation (M2) were enumerated by using the CellSearch System. Results CTCs were detected in 64.8% of mCRPC patients at baseline with a median value (interquartile range) of 2.0 (0.0–4.0). Elevated CTC count was related to visceral metastasis ( P = 0.003), high alkaline phosphatase ( P = 0.043), and high lactate dehydrogenase ( P = 0.007). Baseline CTC ≥ 1 (vs.