Some men involved in the preliminary studies have survived for more than twice as long as expected when all other treatments failed, according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Australian oncologists say the drug, still about three years from public release, is one of the most exciting developments in the prostate field in recent years.
Professor Jim Denham, a urologist at Newcastle Mater Hospital, said abiraterone had the capacity to change the future landscape of the cancer, from a deadly disease to a manageable chronic diseasea condition.
Most men who develop prostate cancer are able to manage their disease with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, but in a smaller number of cases the tumours become resistant to current hormone drugs. Most of these men will survive less than 18 months.Abiraterone is a new drug that blocks the production of male hormones and can produce a response, even in hormone-resistant tumours.
Researchers at the Institute of Cancer Research in London tested the drug on 250 men worldwide with advanced cancer, with some living as long as 32 months.Study leader Johann de Bono said the early indications were that the drug will be able to boost survival by many years and eventually make chemotherapy obsolete.
Prof Denham shared his positive outlook, saying "the sensational claims being thrown about are very justified"."Ordinary hormones are very good at extending life in men whose primary treatment has failed, so you can imagine if you've got something that is a quantum leap better," Prof Denham said.
Professor Judith Clements, head of the hormone dependent cancer program at Queensland University of Technology, said while the drug was promising it was still too early to know how well it is tolerated."Blocking male hormones has been seen to have severe side-effects like muscle loss, decreased libido, bone-related problems as well as high blood pressure, so we need to be cautious," Prof Clements said.
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