BACKGROUND: Androgen-receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) have dramatically changed the management of advanced/metastatic prostate cancer (PCa). However, their cardiovascular toxicity remains to be clarified. OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare the risks of cardiovascular events secondary to treatment of PCa patients with different ARPIs. METHODS: In August 2023, we queried PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to identify randomized controlled studies (RCTs) that analyze PCa patients treated with abiraterone, apalutamide, darolutamide, and enzalutamide. The primary outcomes of interest were the incidence of cardiac disorder, heart failure, ischemic heart disease (IHD), atrial fibrillation (AF), and hypertension. Network meta-analyses (NMAs) were conducted to compare the differential outcomes of each ARPI plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) compared to standard of care (SOC). RESULTS: Overall, 26 RCTs were included. ARPIs were associated with an increased risk of cardiac disorders (RR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.13-2.68, p = 0.01), heart failure (RR: 2.49, 95% CI: 1.05-5.91, p = 0.04), AF (RR: 2.15, 95% CI: 1.14-4.07, p = 0.02), and hypertension (RR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.67-2.54, p < 0.01) at grade ≥3. Based on NMAs, abiraterone increased the risk of grade ≥3 cardiac disorder (RR:2.40, 95% CI: 1.42-4.06) and hypertension (RR:2.19, 95% CI: 1.77-2.70). Enzalutamide was associated with the increase of grade ≥3 AF(RR: 3.17, 95% CI: 1.05-9.58) and hypertension (RR:2.30, 95% CI: 1.82-2.92). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of ARPIs to ADT increases the risk of cardiac disorders, including IHD and AF, as well as hypertension. Each ARPI exhibits a distinct cardiovascular event profile. Selecting patients carefully and vigilant monitoring for cardiovascular issues is imperative for those undergoing ARPI + ADT treatment.

• MeSH
• Androstenes MeSH
• Androgen Receptor Antagonists * adverse effects   therapeutic use   MeSH
• Benzamides adverse effects   MeSH
• Phenylthiohydantoin MeSH
• Cardiovascular Diseases * chemically induced   epidemiology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Prostatic Neoplasms * drug therapy   pathology   MeSH
• Nitriles adverse effects   MeSH
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Network Meta-Analysis MeSH
• Systematic Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• abiraterone MeSH Browser
• Androstenes MeSH
• Androgen Receptor Antagonists * MeSH
• Benzamides MeSH
• enzalutamide MeSH Browser
• Phenylthiohydantoin MeSH
• Nitriles MeSH

BACKGROUND: The most recent overall survival (OS) and adverse event (AE) data have not been compared for the three guideline-recommended high-risk non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) treatment alternatives. METHODS: We performed a systematic review and network meta-analysis focusing on OS and AE according to the most recent apalutamide, enzalutamide, and darolutamide reports. We systematically examined and compared apalutamide vs. enzalutamide vs. darolutamide efficacy and toxicity, relative to ADT according to PRISMA. We relied on PubMed search for most recent reports addressing prospective randomized trials with proven predefined OS benefit, relative to ADT: SPARTAN, PROSPER, and ARAMIS. OS represented the primary outcome and AEs represented secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Overall, data originated from 4117 observations made within the three trials that were analyzed. Regarding OS benefit relative to ADT, darolutamide ranked first, followed by enzalutamide and apalutamide, in that order. In the subgroup of PSA-doubling time (PSA-DT) ≤ 6 months patients, enzalutamide ranked first, followed by darolutamide and apalutamide in that order. Conversely, in the subgroup of PSA-DT 6-10 months patients, darolutamide ranked first, followed by apalutamide and enzalutamide, in that order. Regarding grade 3+ AEs, darolutamide was most favorable, followed by enzalutamide and apalutamide, in that order. CONCLUSION: The current network meta-analysis suggests the highest OS efficacy and lowest grade 3+ toxicity for darolutamide. However, in the PSA-DT ≤ 6 months subgroup, the highest efficacy was recorded for enzalutamide. It is noteworthy that study design, study population, and follow-up duration represent some of the potentially critical differences that distinguish between the three studies and remained statistically unaccounted for using the network meta-analysis methodology. Those differences should be strongly considered in the interpretation of the current and any network meta-analyses.

• MeSH
• Benzamides MeSH
• Phenylthiohydantoin MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant * drug therapy   pathology   MeSH
• Nitriles MeSH
• Prospective Studies MeSH
• Prostate-Specific Antigen MeSH
• Pyrazoles MeSH
• Thiohydantoins MeSH
• Treatment Outcome MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Network Meta-Analysis MeSH
• Systematic Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• apalutamide MeSH Browser
• Benzamides MeSH
• darolutamide MeSH Browser
• enzalutamide MeSH Browser
• Phenylthiohydantoin MeSH
• Nitriles MeSH
• Prostate-Specific Antigen MeSH
• Pyrazoles MeSH
• Thiohydantoins MeSH