Texas Oncology, Houston, TX, USA.
Veterans Affairs Medical Centre and the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
The development of agents targeting androgen signalling holds promise for men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).
The emerging role of abiraterone acetate (AA), a novel, orally administered androgen synthesis inhibitor, is critically analysed.
Data were acquired from critically important original research published in peer-reviewed literature or presented at conferences conducted by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the European Society of Medical Oncology.
The major findings are addressed in an evidence-based, objective, and balanced fashion.
AA specifically inhibits CYP17 and substantially reduces serum androgen levels without inducing significant adrenal insufficiency. A phase 3 trial reported a significant extension of survival in metastatic CRPC with AA plus prednisone compared to prednisone alone following docetaxel. The primary toxicity of mineralocorticoid excess is manageable. The addition of low-dose corticosteroids to AA may be necessary for controlling symptoms of mineralocorticoid excess.
Written by:
Sonpavde G, Attard G, Bellmunt J, Mason MD, Malavaud B, Tombal B, Sternberg CN. Are you the author?
Reference: Eur Urol. 2011 Apr 29. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2011.04.032
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 21550166
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