Dr. James Mohler on Androgen Levels in Prostate Cancer

James Mohler, MD, Associate Director and Senior-Vice President for Translational Research, Chair, Department of Urology, Professor of Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, explains the progress needed to better understand androgen receptors. An older study found that patients with elevated circulating levels of adrenal androgens responded better and longer to ketoconazole. The question is whether or not the same principle can be applied to abiraterone.

Theoretically, Mohler says, an oncologist could biopsy a patient's prostate gland, measure tissue levels of androgens, and determine which anti-androgen agent would work best. As a long-term goal, Mohler sees the need to learn more about how drugs work and how they fail.