Providing the Best Treatment for Prostate Cancer
10 March 2008 - In the UK approximately 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, with more than one man dying of this disease per hour.
The growth of prostate cancer cells is driven by the male hormone testosterone. Current treatments for prostate cancer primarily involve hormonal manipulation that stop the generation of testicular hormones. Prostate cancers can, however, continue to grow despite this. Studies now suggest prostate cancer cells can acquire these hormones by other means.
Dr Johann de Bono, Clinical Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant in the Section of Medicine at The Institute, and his colleagues are investigating a drug called abiraterone to treat resistant prostate cancer. Dr de Bono explains; “Abiraterone, which was discovered at The Institute, is a chemical inhibitor of the enzyme CYP17 which blocks the generation of the hormones these cancers commonly continue to depend on. Trials of this drug in patients with resistant advanced prostate cancer have produced very promising results. After receiving abiraterone once-daily by mouth, the tumours of more than half the patients have regressed. Patients also reported an improvement in their well-being, decreased pain and use of pain killers. This drug causes tumours to measurably shrink. We now have patients who have been on this drug continuously for more than two years and continuing to have their cancer controlled by this treatment."
"Further evaluation of abiraterone, with American collaborators, is now ongoing with a view to pursuing, in the near future, the studies required for regulatory approval of the drug so that it can ultimately be used routinely in hospitals”, concludes Dr de Bono.
Dr Johann de Bono is leader of The Institute's Prostate Cancer Team in the Section of Medicine
