AR-V7: A Genetic Test to Determine Effectiveness of Enzalutamide and Abiraterone.

When prostate cancer becomes “hormone resistant” or refractory, anti-androgen drugs such as enzalutamide (Xtandi®) and abiraterone (Zytiga®) are often prescribed.  But not all patients respond equally. Some 30 percent of men with advanced prostate cancer have an abnormal version of a prostate cancer protein that connects with testosterone.  The protein is missing a key connector that binds to abiraterone and enzalutamide.  The abnormal protein is caused by a genetic variant called AR-V7.  Most patients who test positive for AR-V7 get limited or no benefit from abiraterone or enzalutamide.  Researchers at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore have invented  a test for the genetic variant, AR-V7.  However the test is available for research purposes only at this time.  More information can be found in the linked article and in a blog published on this website on May 7th, 2015.