The Use of Zytiga After Lupron to Control Prostate Cancer

One of the unique characteristics of prostate cancer is its responsiveness to the withdrawal of testosterone. This was discovered in the 1940s when surgical removal of the testicles was shown to induce cancer remission. In 1985, Lupron, an injectable medication that had a similar effect was approved by the FDA. Lupron works by causing the testicles to shut down their production of testosterone.

white pills coming out of medicine bottle
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Effectiveness

Lupron controls prostate cancer for an average duration of 18 to 24 months in men with metastatic disease. When Lupron stops working, other hormonal agents such as Casodex (bicalutamide) or Nilandron (nilutamide) may provide temporary control, but their duration of effect (keeping the PSA down) usually lasts for less than a year. 

Researchers have not established whether a simple decline in PSA levels accurately indicates that a patient’s survival will be extended. So new prostate cancer drugs can only be approved if the pharmaceutical manufacturer documents improved ​survival in a prospective, placebo-controlled trial. Proving improved survival is different than simply showing that medication causes a temporary decline in PSA levels. 

Zytiga is given in combination with Lupron if Lupron was not adequately effective, and it is not used alone.

Zytiga (abiraterone acetate) is based On the discovery that resistance to Lupron (defined as cancer growth despite zero testosterone in the blood) is not a result of the cancer cells having learned to grow without testosterone. Rather, Lupron resistance is a result of prostate cancer cells having learned how to manufacture their own testosterone internally.

Its anticancer effect works by blocking an essential enzyme located inside the cancer cell, an enzyme that is an integral component in the synthetic pathway of testosterone. The net result is that the cancer cell is blocked from manufacturing its own testosterone. 

Side Effects

Side effects of Zytiga can include changes in potassium levels in the blood, and in rare cases, liver dysfunction. Zytiga also enhances the action of cholesterol pills like Lipitor and Crestor, so their dosage needs to be reduced to compensate. 

To keep potassium levels in the normal range, Zytiga is administered in conjunction with prednisone, a form of cortisone. Cortisone can have side effects too. It is occasionally associated with gastric irritation and stomach ulcers. Higher blood sugar levels can also occur in people who have diabetes.

6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Wadosky KM, Koochekpour S. Therapeutic rationales, progresses, failures, and future directions for advanced prostate cancerInternational Journal of Biological Sciences. 2016;12(4):409-426. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.14090

  2. Federal Register. Determination That LUPRON (Leuprolide Acetate)Injection, 1 Milligram/0.2 Milliliter, Was Not Withdrawn From Sale for Reasons of Safety or Effectiveness.

  3. American Society of Clinical Oncology. Prostrate Cancer: Types of Treatment.

  4. National Cancer Institute. Prostrate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Test.

  5. Federal Drug Administration. Demonstrating Substantial Evidence of Effectiveness for Human Drug and Biological Products Guidance for Industry.

  6. Janssen Biotech. Potential Zytiga Side Effects.

By Mark Scholz, MD
Mark Scholz, MD, is a board-certified oncologist and expert on prostate cancer.