Abirataj Tablets

Abiraterone Acetate Tablets 250mg for prostate cancer

Abirataj­ is a prescription medicine that is used along with prednisone. Abirataj is used to treat men with prostate cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. Abirataj­ is not for use in women. Abiraterone acetate (Abirataj)­ is converted in vivo to abiraterone, an androgen biosynthesis inhibitor, that inhibits 17 α‑hydroxylase/C17,20-lyase (CYP17). This enzyme is expressed in testicular, adrenal, and prostatic tumor tissues and is required for androgen biosynthesis. CYP17 catalyzes two sequential reactions: 1) the conversion of pregnenolone and progesterone to their 17α-hydroxy derivatives by 17α-hydroxylase activity and 2) the subsequent formation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and andro­ stenedione, respectively, by C17, 20 lyase activity. DHEA and androstenedione are androgens and are precursors of testosterone. Inhibition of CYP17 by abiraterone can also result in increased mineralocorticoid production by the adrenals. Androgen sensitive prostatic carcinoma responds to treatment that decreases androgen levels. Androgen deprivation therapies, such as treatment with GnRH agonists or orchiectomy, decrease androgen production in the testes but do not affect androgen production by the adrenals or in the tumor. ­Abirataj decreased serum testosterone and other androgens in patients in the placebo‑controlled clinical trial. It is not necessary to monitor the effect of Abirataj­ on serum testosterone levels. Changes in serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels may be observed but have not been shown to correlate with clinical benefit in individual patients.