Background Abiraterone is an expensive drug used in hospitals for metastatic prostate cancer and it is necessary to evaluate health outcomes from its use to establish whether it is cost-effective treatment.

Purpose To analyse the effectiveness profile of abiraterone for metastatic prostate cancer in a tertiary hospital.

Material and methods Retrospective observational study of three years, since abiraterone was first marketed to the present (November 2011–July 2014). All prostate cancer patients treated with abiraterone were included. Variables recorded: age, performance status (ECOG) and progression-free survival (PFS). Data were collected from patients medical records.

The statistical analysis was ANOVA followed by t test. A confidence limit of p < 0.05 was set for the interpretation of results.

Results 33 patients were included in the study. The median age was 72.7 (SD 9.1) years old.

The PFS was 7.0 (5.2–8.8) vs. 2.9 (0.7–5.1) months for patients with ECOG 0–1 and ECOG2 respectively (p = 0.01).

5 patients were treated in first line, 3.8 months of PFS (9.1 months for ECOG0–1 patients and 1.0 months for ECOG2 patients).

28 patients in second line, 4.2 months of PFS (5.0 months for ECOG0–1 patients and 2.6 months for ECOG2 patients).

Conclusion Our results indicate that ECOG 2 patients derive little clinical benefit from abiraterone.

References and/or acknowledgements To the oncology service.

No conflict of interest.