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January 12, 2010
Promising Research Results for New Prostate Cancer Drug, Abiraterone
by Denene Brox
A new drug, currently being tested in clinical trials, has doctors very optimistic for the treatment of prostate cancer. Abiraterone, discovered by British chemists in the 1990s and tested by the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London, is currently in phase III of clinical trials. In phases I and II of clinical trials, two-thirds of men with advanced and aggressive prostate cancer responded positively to abiraterone. The drug’s benefits include:
- Dramatically shrinks tumors
- Benefits last longer (it works for approximately 18 months for most patients before the cancer returns)
- Very few side effects
- Significantly reduces pain
- Reduces tumor size on scans and lowers PSA levels substantially
- Lowers testosterone levels in patients who didn’t respond to antiandrogen drugs
Side effects have been described as “minimal” with some clinical trial patients experiencing loss of sexual drive, tiredness, breast enlargement, fluid retention, and hypertension.
While researchers at ICR are hopeful that abiraterone will eventually become a standard prostate cancer treatment, that determination will not be announced until after phase III of the clinical trials. At this time, abiraterone is still being tested for safety and benefits, so it is not currently available for prescription. Researchers in London are hopeful that the drug will become available in 2011 if the phase III results are positive and regulatory approvals are issued.
All of the clinical trials in London are filled. For a list of international clinical trials visit http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=abiraterone.
Abiraterone was discovered and developed in the Cancer Research UK Cancer for Cancer Therapeutics at The Institute of Cancer Research and is licensed to Cougar Biotechnology, Inc.
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