Clinical Trials

Abiraterone Acetate for Prostate Cancer

Tower Cancer Research Foundation has been an important research site for the abiraterone acetate trial for nearly three years. The trials at all sites have now been completed, and on April 28, 2011 the FDA approved abiraterone acetate under the trade name Zytiga®.

Prostate cancer is very common and has a high cure rate. However, approximately 30,000 deaths still occur annually in the US. When standard hormone deprivation therapy is no longer effective, the outlook for patients has been disappointing. The drug abiraterone acetate seems to be an important breakthrough in this setting. Clinical trials have showed improvement in the quality of life as well as the extent of life in patients with castrate resistant prostate cancer. Hopefully, as Zytiga® enters the marketplace, it will fill a much needed niche for patients with advanced prostate cancer.