Study shows lower dose of abiraterone acetate as effective for prostate cancer treatment

Medical Xpress / National University of Singapore / Cancer Communications ^ | July 23, 2025 | Edmund Chiong et al

[ConservativeMind]

Pharmaceutical scientists, clinicians, nurses and pharmacists have shown that a reduced dose of abiraterone acetate is potentially as effective and safe as the standard regimen for prostate cancer patients.

Prostate cancer remains one of the most common malignancies among men. The current standard treatment involves a 1000 mg daily dose of abiraterone acetate (AA), a drug that targets hormone pathways driving cancer progression. However, this high dose can lead to unwanted side effects and high treatment costs.

The study investigated whether a 500 mg daily dose of AA, taken on an empty stomach, could achieve comparable therapeutic outcomes.

In their study involving nine men with metastatic prostate cancer, they found that this lower dose resulted in comparable cancer suppression. This was demonstrated through reduced prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, a marker of tumor activity, and effective hormone suppression, as supported by both patient data and computer-based pharmacological modeling.

This new dosing approach may allow patients to experience fewer side effects, lower their treatment costs, and maintain effective cancer control. It could also improve treatment access and adherence, especially for elderly patients or those with financial constraints.

The research found that 500 mg AA led to a PSA reduction in all patients after 12 weeks, with over 75% experiencing a drop of 50% or more. The lower-dose treatment was generally safe and well tolerated.

Importantly, advanced pharmacokinetic modeling showed that even at half the usual dose, over 80% of the drug's target enzyme (CYP17A1) remained inhibited, indicating strong therapeutic activity. These findings build on prior research and support the feasibility of a scientifically guided, lower-dose strategy.

Professor Chan and Associate Professor Chiong said, "Our findings open the door to a more cost-effective and safer treatment for prostate cancer patients, with minimal compromise on efficacy."

[ConservativeMind]

A half dose of a common hormone blocker appears to still inhibit 80+% of the targeted enzyme, CYP17A1, while reducing side effects.

Apparently, this is effectively what double the dose, which is the normal dose, achieves.

[ConservativeMind]

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[Revel]

But it is not as effective for the drug companies because they only make half of the profit.

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[Glad2bnuts]

100%.... I take that drug and it is a stomach killer, like eating battery acid sometimes. Other times, not much of a problem. I cut back to 1 pill with a low fat meal of unsweeted yogurt, blueberries, banana slices and high protein cereal. The Doctors put me back on 1,000 mg because my PSA went up from .2 to .4 ....