Abiraterone - Treatment for Advanced Prostate Cancer

Abiraterone is a medication prescribed for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. It works by inhibiting an enzyme called CYP17, which plays a role in hormone production.

Abiraterone FAQ

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What is abiraterone acetate (Zytiga®)?

Abiraterone acetate (Zytiga®) is a type of hormone therapy for men with prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body ( advanced prostate cancer ). Abiraterone works by stopping the body producing testosterone. It does this in a different way than other types of hormone therapy.

What is abiraterone used for?

This medication is used to treat prostate cancer. Abiraterone belongs to a class of drugs known as anti-androgens (anti- testosterone ). Testosterone, a natural hormone, helps prostate cancer to grow and spread.

What are the side effects of taking abiraterone?

But steroids can cause other side effects. Taking abiraterone may cause your bones to get thinner and weaker over time. You can help keep your bones strong and reduce your risk of severe bone thinning (osteoporosis) by making changes to your lifestyle.

Does abiraterone help prostate cancer?

Prostate cancer needs testosterone (male sex hormone) to grow. Abiraterone blocks and stops your body from making testosterone. This can help slow down the growth of the cancer. How do you have abiraterone?

How do you pronounce abiraterone?

Abiraterone is a hormone therapy drug. You pronounce abiraterone as ah-bir-rat-te-rone. It is a treatment for prostate cancer that has spread (advanced prostate cancer). How does abiraterone work? Prostate cancer needs testosterone (male sex hormone) to grow. Abiraterone blocks and stops your body from making testosterone.

How does abiraterone work?

Abiraterone works by stopping the body producing testosterone. It does this in a different way than other types of hormone therapy. In most men, prostate cancer cells can’t grow without testosterone, even if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

What is abiraterone (Zytiga®)?

Find out about abiraterone (Zytiga®), a new type of hormone therapy for men with advanced prostate cancer that has stopped responding to other hormone therapy treatments. Information by Prostate Cancer UK's award-winning Health Information Team.

How does abiraterone work in prostate cancer?

Abiraterone is a hormone treatment - it belongs to a group of medicines known as anti-androgens. This means that it reduces the amount of male sex hormones (called androgens) that your body produces. In prostate cancer, androgens are produced by your testicles (testes), by your adrenal glands, and in the tumour cells.