Introduction:
Abiraterone acetate, an oral 17-alpha-hydroxylase inhibitor, effectively prevents the synthesis of
androgens from
steroid precursors.
Abiraterone has become a standard of care in patients with metastatic
prostate cancer due to its efficacy in both castrate-sensitive and castrate-resistant disease when given in combination with
androgen deprivation
therapy (ADT).
Abiraterone may have a role in additional aspects of
prostate cancer treatment in the future.Areas covered: The present article focuses on the development and establishment of
abiraterone among the available treatment options for
prostate cancer. A literature search was performed in PubMed/Medline for prior studies and reviews of the
drug. Current clinical trials were examined in the Clinicaltrials.gov database.Expert opinion:
Abiraterone has shown efficacy in castrate-resistant metastatic
prostate cancer, providing an additional degree of hormonal sensitivity for
tumors resistant to ADT. Impressively,
abiraterone in conjunction with ADT as a first-line treatment for castrate-sensitive
prostate cancer also confers a significant overall survival benefit compared to ADT alone. With minimal additional toxicity,
abiraterone has established itself as a well-tolerated, convenient, and effective treatment option. Ongoing studies are expected to broaden the
drug's indications as well as its preference among other
prostate cancer therapies.