The Institute of Cancer Research, London, has strongly welcomed the approval by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the genetically targeted drug olaparib for some men with advanced prostate cancer.

A drug used for breast and ovarian cancer is more effective than modern targeted hormone treatments at slowing progression and improving survival in some men with advanced prostate cancer, phase III clinical trial findings reveal.

The preliminary results of a major phase III clinical trial show that the genetically targeted drug olaparib improves outcomes for men with advanced prostate cancer whose tumours have DNA repair faults.