How I do it: Prescribing abiraterone acetate for metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer.

Abiraterone acetate (AA) is a selective irreversible inhibitor of CYP 17, a key enzyme in androgen biosynthesis. The efficacy and safety of AA in improving survival and quality of life in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) has been demonstrated in two landmark clinical trials (COU-AA-301 and COU-AA-302). This article will review the rationale, pharmacology, clinical indications and contraindications, administration, and adverse effects of AA administration in mCRPC.