https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7502238.stm


Scientists are hailing a new drug to treat aggressive prostate cancer as potentially the most significant advance in the field for 70 years.
Abiraterone could potentially treat up to 80% of patients with a deadly form of the disease resistant to currently available chemotherapy, they say.
The drug works by blocking the hormones which fuel the cancer.
The Institute of Cancer Research hopes a simple pill form will be available in two to three years.
We believe we have made a major step forward in the treatment of end-stage prostate cancer patients


Dr Johann de Bono
Institute of Cancer Research


An advanced clinical trial involving 1,200 patients around the world is currently under way, with more trials likely later this year.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men.
It is estimated that up to 10,000 men a year in the UK are diagnosed with the most aggressive - and almost always lethal - form of prostate cancer.
Typical life expectancy following chemotherapy is no more than 18 months.
It had been assumed that the cancer was driven by sex hormones such as testosterone produced in the testicles.
Current treatments work by stopping the testicles from producing testosterone.
New action
However, experts have now discovered that the cancer can feed on sex hormones from all sources, including supplies of the hormone produced by the tumour itself.

The changes in my life have been dramatic


Simon Bush
Cancer trial patient



Read Simon's story

Abiraterone works by blocking production of the hormones throughout the body.

That sounds like a really good thing, just judging by the mans reaction to it. obviously though it doesn't mean a heck of a lot right now, as the next 3 people trialed could have mild attenuation of symptoms, with no real solid relief, or they all could practically recover, or maybe only 1 in 4 does perhaps. At this stage we just don't know.

Very promising though none the less .

Xania,

I just read an article about this yesterday. Here's a link:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/ar...ands-year.html

I agree that it's promising. But, some of the media attention may paint too rosy a picture - at least in terms of how powerful the side effects may be. Here's an example:

If anything, it seems to me that it's effects may be stronger (both for the good and bad) than the typical hormonal approach to treating prostate cancer. I hope the end-result is a positive for the patients taking it.

Maybe I'm mistaken?

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