CancerCompass message board discussion started by DonnaPeach on 7/18/2008 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,26220,0.htm Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ My dad was diagnosed with prostrate cancer in 1992 and had his prostate removed.  Then was treated with radiation in 1999 because his psa's were going up.  They have been stable until 2007 when they begin going up again  He has been continuously under hormone treatment and was treated with chemo (taxitere).  His psa's had gone down, but now are going up again.  Was in the teens, then 20's, now 30's.  (his numbers were way in the 100's for the beginning of the treatment).  Now...his doctor has recommended a clinical trial for him of abiraterone acetate with prednisone.  The taxitere almost killed him, so he is not interested in chemo of any kind.  I have not found anything on this site about this trial.  Is anyone familiar with the drug?  His cancer has never been found outside the prostate and the only indication of cancer has been his psa's.  He is 82, but in excellent health. Still working every day, driving, active in church, etc.   I would love to hear from anyone with your thoughts or ideas.  Thanks,  Donna DonnaPeach Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Donna:First, I assume you are in the US. Abiraterone Acetate (AA) is a treatment that has been followed closely by many of us in the cancer community. It is a "super" anti androgen. This means that it restricts the access of androgens (male hormones) to cells and thus slows the growth of prostate cancer which is driven by the hormone access. It has recently been noticed that even under complete hormone blockade that testosterone and other androgens can be produced by the cancer cells themselves, bypassing the blocking mechanism of LHRH drugs, DES, Casodex and other anti androgens. AA has the ability to prevent even some of this intra-cellular androgen pathway. It is currently in a phase III trial for men who have failed chemo (taxotere) therapy, as has your father. This is, in my opinion, the very best trial available for men such as your father. It will likely fill quickly so if he is eligible he should respond promptly. The side effects from the earlier trials were mild, and compared to taxotere, practically non existent. If I were in his position and wanted the best opportunity to extend survival with limited side effects, I would be delighted to enroll. NOTE: He is not guaranteed to receive the drug. It is a 2:1 AA to placebo trial.http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00638690?term=abirater Congratulations to his doctor for recognizing and recommending this opportunity.  Thoosier Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 7/18/2008 Thoosier wrote:Donna:First, I assume you are in the US. Abiraterone Acetate (AA) is a treatment that has been followed closely by many of us in the cancer community. It is a "super" anti androgen. This means that it restricts the access of androgens (male hormones) to cells and thus slows the growth of prostate cancer which is driven by the hormone access. It has recently been noticed that even under complete hormone blockade that testosterone and other androgens can be produced by the cancer cells themselves, bypassing the blocking mechanism of LHRH drugs, DES, Casodex and other anti androgens. AA has the ability to prevent even some of this intra-cellular androgen pathway. It is currently in a phase III trial for men who have failed chemo (taxotere) therapy, as has your father. This is, in my opinion, the very best trial available for men such as your father. It will likely fill quickly so if he is eligible he should respond promptly. The side effects from the earlier trials were mild, and compared to taxotere, practically non existent. If I were in his position and wanted the best opportunity to extend survival with limited side effects, I would be delighted to enroll. NOTE: He is not guaranteed to receive the drug. It is a 2:1 AA to placebo trial.http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00638690?term=abirater Congratulations to his doctor for recognizing and recommending this opportunity.  This is exactly what I was hoping to hear!  Thank you for taking the time to write your opinion.  I have lung cancer and have relied on this site many times to get the latest updates on treatment. When I was searching for info on this latest proposal of treatment for my dad (the abiraterone acetate), I didn't find anything on this site.  So...was hoping someone out there could offer an opinion!  It's much more "real" than just reading all the medical information.  (you make much more sense too!)  He does realize that he may receive the placebo, but he was ready to do nothing...and take his chances because of the terrible effects from the taxotere.  It was my opinion that maybe he could offer some help to someone else even if it didn't help him and that seemed to make sense to him.  Thanks again, Donna DonnaPeach Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hello, I would like to say that I am very happy to know that the treatment crued your father. I just learn that my father has prostate cancer. I am very interested in Abiraterone Acetate W/ Prednisone for my father. I briefly saw the infocommercial - unfortunately, I caught the end of the commercial and would I love to know how and where to purchase the Abiraterone Acetate W/ Prednisone. If possible, please email the information to me - i would really appreciate it.  Thank you in advanceSincerely,Bubbles Kids   Bubbles Kids Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT I read with interest your information about abiraterone.  We are interviewing to get into this trial this week in San Francisco.  If, as I suspect, my husband has fluid in his stomach, as in progression to stomach cancer, do you think they will still take him?  Leslie W Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 8/16/2008 Bubbles Kids wrote:Hello, I would like to say that I am very happy to know that the treatment crued your father. I just learn that my father has prostate cancer. I am very interested in Abiraterone Acetate W/ Prednisone for my father. I briefly saw the infocommercial - unfortunately, I caught the end of the commercial and would I love to know how and where to purchase the Abiraterone Acetate W/ Prednisone. If possible, please email the information to me - i would really appreciate it.  Thank you in advanceSincerely,Bubbles Kids   I wish I could say that my Dad had been cured from this drug....but he just started on the trial.  We are, however, optimistic from the things we have read so far and a special that we saw on the evening news.  Here is the website regarding this study and there are many other sources of info.  The drug company sponsoring this drug is Cougar Biotechnology which has info.http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00485303 http://abcnews.go.com/WN/story?id=5434049&page=1 Good Luck!  Donna DonnaPeach Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT I'm afraid that my Dad just started on the drug last week...so we don't have much tracking history.  I do know that they can't exhibit "problems" in order to be accepted in the study, but I have no idea if the fluid in his stomach would be okay or not.  Look at my response to the other e-mail and check out those links.Good Luck!  Donna DonnaPeach Wed, 20 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi: My father in-law is 86 years old and is in very good health except for his prostate cancer condition . Just three weeks ago his PSA went up to 47 and his doctor sent him a Gamma-gram of the bones and was found to have metathesis of the bones. He has since received treatment of the drugs called Zometa and is taking Casodex on a daily basis. He was radiated in 1994 and castrated a few years later. Because of his age the doctors said that the progress is slower. He comes from a longevity family where his father died at 101 years, his mother at 94 and two aunts at 97 each. We belive that he has a lot still to give and hope you can help us get a hold of this "wonder drug" that we have been investigating because his doctor mentioned this altenative to us. It is not available to us for now but we are willing to to get it. In God´s name we pray that someone can help us. Thanks.       Adonis Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT