title: The development of abiraterone acetate for castration-resistant prostate cancer.
abstract: Abiraterone acetate is a novel CYP17A1 inhibitor demonstrated to prolong survival in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). This review explores key stages in the almost 20-year history of abiraterone acetate׳s development, starting with a program aiming to develop inhibitors of androgen synthesis at the Institute of Cancer Research, London. Clinical development was initially slow owing to insufficient data supporting targeting of androgen synthesis as a therapeutic approach in CRPC and safety concerns of adrenocortical insufficiency from suppression of cortisol. Regulatory authorities approved abiraterone acetate in 2011 after a survival benefit was demonstrated when given in combination with prednisone as compared with prednisone alone in docetaxel-treated men. Licensing approval extended to include chemotherapy-naive patients with CRPC in 2012 following a significant increase in radiographic progression-free survival. Ongoing research focuses on identifying predictive biomarkers and understanding mechanisms of resistance to improve its administration.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grist
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK. Electronic address: Gerhardt.attard@icr.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Gerhardt
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Attard
mesh_terms: D000069501:Abiraterone Acetate; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D064129:Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069501:Abiraterone Acetate