FDA expands Zytiga’s use for late-stage prostate cancer

            The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently expanded the approved use of Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) to treat men with late-stage (metastatic) castration-resistant prostate cancer prior to receiving chemotherapy. The FDA initially approved the drug in April 2011 for use in patients whose prostate cancer progressed after treatment with docetaxel, a chemotherapy drug.

            In prostate cancer, testosterone stimulates prostate tumors to grow. Drugs or surgery are used to reduce male sex hormone testosterone production or to block testosterone’s effects. Zytiga decreases the production of testosterone. Some men have castration-resistant prostate cancer, meaning the prostate cancer cells continue to grow even with low levels of testosterone.

More data at: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm331492.htm