Abiraterone: The Best Hope for Prostate Cancer?

As the results of the first phase of trials publishedreduction level for 18 months.
in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, abirateroneSide effects were generally mild, but it reminds
gained instant critical as the miracle drug to treatpatients under hormone replacement therapy.
prostate cancer. The mainstream mediaThese include a change in the levels of sodium
immediately pounced on the story during theand potassium in the blood, an accumulation of
middle of July 2008 from the drug as the mostfluid in the ankles / edema Overall, an increase in
significant advance in the field of therapy ofblood pressure, headaches, loss of appetite,
prostate cancer in 70 years. Despite the promisingfatigue and hot flushes.
results during its first test abiraterone couldPhase 2 trials are underway but results have not
legitimately have earned their bragging rights.yet been published. Focused on men whose
Given that history of prostate cancer, researchprevious hormone therapy no longer works.
shows that around the world, almost one third ofThese men were abiraterone that the abiraterone
men diagnosed with the disease die from it.no longer worked, they were then given a steroid
Prostate cancer usually affects men who havecalled dexamethasone. The first results were
arrived in the fifties, and the risk increases theannounced in June 2008, and it looked promising,
older they get. To detect or examine suspectedwere hailed by the media as the biggest
cases of prostate cancer, the doctor usuallybreakthrough in research on prostate cancer. Men
begins with a prostate specific antigen or PSAwho were taking only abiraterone ï ¿½ "the
bloodwork then a biopsy if a review showsmajority of them ï ¿½" show a drop in their
positive indicators for the disease. At present,PSA levels. A sure sign of the treatment stopped
only early detection ensures recovery of mostthe cancer from growing or developing. In 50% of
cases of prostate cancer.men with tumors can be measured in the scan,
The male hormone testosterone ï ¿½the cancer is reduced or didnâ € ™ t grow
"even though it performs a vital function in theeven more. PSA levels were reduced by half in
male anatomy ï ¿½" stimulates prostatealmost 70% of men participating in clinical trials
cancer tumors to grow. Current therapies used todespite the fact that the PSA level of men
treat prostate cancer usually involves stopping theinvolved has increased again after 7 months.
body from making testosterone. This method canDespite the promising results, abiraterone is
slow the growth of existing tumors, or evencurrently only available for men who take part in
shrink. The majority of testosterone in the malea clinical trial.
anatomy is made by the testes, but a significantBased on provisional results, the last abiraterone
ï ¿½ "ï ¿albeit small ½" is synthesizedtrial participants should be examined as a
in other tissues in the body, including cancer itself.precaution. Because the drug changes the levels
To create or synthesize testosterone, the bodyof sodium and potassium in the blood and
needs an enzyme called cytochrome P17, oftenincreases blood pressure, men with a history of
called in the CYP17 research € ™ s â €heart disease and high blood pressure are not
œWhite Paper €?.allowed to participate in trials abiraterone. So the
Abiraterone, whose chemical name is abirateronemen who have undergone treatment with a drug
acetate, also known as CB7630 works differentlycalled ketoconazole, has a history of liver disease
compared to other hormonal treatments foror currently have another type of cancer and /
prostate cancer. Abiraterone acetate has a broador secondary cancer in the brain. Experts say that
spectrum in blocking the enzyme CYP17, thusbased on all hormone therapy to cure prostate
preventing the testes and other tissues in thecancer ï ¿½ "ï ¿½ including
body of the synthesis of testosterone.abiraterone" carries the risk of impotence, urinary
Abiraterone has been recently used in clinical trialstract problems and incontinence.
as an experimental treatment for prostateIn the past, prostate cancer tends to be the
cancer. These first clinical trials focused on menforefront of consciousness when someone
with advanced prostate cancer whose priorfamous only helped overcome the disease by
treatment no longer works as well for men withcurrent treatment regimen at the time. In
advanced prostate cancer that has spread orNovember 1987, USA President Ronald Reagan
metastasis beyond the prostate gland.underwent surgery transurethral prostate due to
Results of the Phase 1 trial were recentlybenign prostatic hypertropy, causing a heightened
published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.awareness of prostate cancer. In the world of
Abiraterone during the trials, 80% of men had aentertainment, Bill Foxa € œThe â €?
decrease in their levels of prostate specificFoster Emcee Comedy Centrala € ™ s â
antigen (PSA) in blood accompanied by tumor€ œThe man Showa €? died of prostate
shrinkage. A fall in PSA levels usually the numbercancer in May 10, 2000. His family asked that we
of cancer cells has been reduced. Some of the(The Man Show fans) to honor his memory by
men who suffer from chronic pain from hisurging viewers to get their male prostates
prostate cancer tumors were able to take muchexamined regularly by your doctor. Many felt that
lower doses of painkillers, a sure sign ofwith early detection, the bill â € œThe Foxa
improvement. PSA reduction lasted just over two€? Fostered € ™ s death could have
months in some men, while on other issues, thebeen avoided.