Laboratory evaluation of Abiraterone, a novel small molecule inhibitor of androgen synthesis that is safe, and has durable clinical antitumour activity in prostate cancer patients who have failed standard androgen deprivation therapy.

Johann de Bono, Gerhardt Attard, Jeremy Clark, Gyula Kovacs, Michelle Garrett, Mitch Dowsett, Florence Raynaud, David Dearnaley, Chris Parker and Colin Cooper, Institute of Cancer Research

We have developed a new hormone treatment, abiraterone, which is a pill with few side-effects that works in up to 60-70% of patients with advanced prostate cancer, causing sustained tumours shrinkage. However, after a period of time (months to years), abiraterone stops working and the cancer returns. We are now running experiments to identify mechanisms that cause abiraterone to stop working. We would then develop new drugs that could work after abiraterone has been used and allow our patients to keep living a good quality life.

Project Commenced

April 2009

Length of Project

2 years

Amount Awarded

£141,939