Latest Headlines
Age should not affect chemotherapy choice for stage IV lung cancer: guidelines
Early PET-CT predicts treatment response of head and neck cancer
Evidence scarce to support RF ablation of colorectal CA metastases in the liver
Casopitant helps curb chemotherapy emesis
Australian scientists plan to regrow breasts after cancer
NEWS PROVIDED BY 
VIEW ALL NEWSNew antiandrogen agents show promise against advanced prostate cancer
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Two non-steroidal antiandrogens, designated MDV3100 and RD162, may be useful treatment for castration-resistant prostate cancer, according to a report in the April 10th online issue of Science.
Current antiandrogen drugs are effective treatments for metastatic prostate cancer, yet most patients will progress to castration-resistant disease, the result of an increase in androgen receptors, senior researcher Dr. Charles L. Sawyers, from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, and colleagues explain.
In screening for new prostate cancer drugs, Dr. Sawyers' team identified MDV3100 and RD162, diarylthiohydantoin compounds that remain active against the malignancy even in the face of elevated androgen receptor expression.
Both of these agents were found to bind to androgen receptors with greater affinity than bicalutamide (Casodex), a first-generation antiandrogen. Further analysis showed that the drugs reduced internalization of androgen receptors and related transcriptional activity.
Testing in murine models of human castration-resistant prostate cancer, the authors found that RD162 and MDV3100 promoted tumor regression. Moreover, in a phase I/II trial of MDV3100 in 30 patients with castration-resistant disease, use of the drug induced sustained reductions in PSA levels in 13 patients (43%).
"While preliminary, these clinical data appear promising and validate the persistent role of androgen receptor in driving castration-resistant disease," the authors conclude.
Copyright © 2009 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
NEWS PROVIDED BY
TEXT SIZE 