Abiraterone and increased survival in metastatic prostate cancer.
de Bono JS, Logothetis CJ, Molina A et al.; COU-AA-301 Investigators.
Editor’s note: Abiraterone inhibits cytochrome P450 c17, a critical enzyme in testosterone synthesis; which leads to the suppression of androgen synthesis in adrenal glands and testes, as well as within prostate tumors. Treatment with abiraterone reduces serum testosterone levels much further than that achieved by surgical or pharmacological castration. The increased mineralocorticoid levels that are associated with abiraterone treatment may lead to side-effects such as hypertension, hypokalemia, and fluid retention, but adjuvant steroid treatment has been shown to reduce these effects.