A CYP17A1 inhibitor is a type of

drug A drug is any chemical substance other than a nutrient or an essential dietary ingredient, which, when administered to a living organism, produces a biological effect. Consumption of drugs can be via insufflation (medicine), inhalation, drug i ...

that inhibits the

enzyme An enzyme () is a protein that acts as a biological catalyst by accelerating chemical reactions. The molecules upon which enzymes may act are called substrate (chemistry), substrates, and the enzyme converts the substrates into different mol ...

CYP17A1. CYP17A1 inhibitors work by blocking specific enzyme functions, impacting androgen biosynthesis.

Mechanism of action

CYP17A1 inhibitors may inhibit one or both of the enzyme’s functions: 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase. Some inhibitors are selective and target only the 17,20-lyase function, while others inhibit both functions. By inhibiting these enzymatic functions, CYP17A1 inhibitors prevent the conversion of pregnane

steroid A steroid is an organic compound with four fused compound, fused rings (designated A, B, C, and D) arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes t ...

s into

androgen An androgen (from Greek ''andr-'', the stem of the word meaning ) is any natural or synthetic steroid hormone that regulates the development and maintenance of male characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen receptors. This includes ...

s like

testosterone Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and androgen in Male, males. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of Male reproductive system, male reproductive tissues such as testicles and prostate, as well as promoting se ...

. This action classifies them as

biosynthesis Biosynthesis, i.e., chemical synthesis occurring in biological contexts, is a term most often referring to multi-step, enzyme-Catalysis, catalyzed processes where chemical substances absorbed as nutrients (or previously converted through biosynthe ...

inhibitors and functional

antiandrogen Antiandrogens, also known as androgen antagonists or testosterone blockers, are a class of drugs that prevent androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from mediating their biological effects in the body. They act by blocking t ...

Examples

Examples of CYP17A1 inhibitors include the older drug

ketoconazole Ketoconazole, sold under the brand name Nizoral, among others, is an antiandrogen, antifungal drug, antifungal, and antiglucocorticoid medication used to treat a number of fungal infections. Applied to the skin it is used for fungal skin inf ...

and the newer drugs

abiraterone acetate Abiraterone acetate, sold under the brand name Zytiga among others, is a medication used to treat prostate cancer. Specifically it is used together with a corticosteroid for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) and metasta ...

orteronel Orteronel (TAK-700) is a nonsteroidal CYP17A1 inhibitor that was being developed for the treatment of cancer by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company in conjunction with Millennium Pharmaceuticals. It completed two phase III clinical trials for meta ...

galeterone Galeterone (developmental code names TOK-001, VN/124-1) is a steroidal antiandrogen which was under development by Tokai Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of prostate cancer. It possesses a unique triple mechanism of action, acting as an androgen ...

, and

seviteronel __NOTOC__ Seviteronel (developmental codes VT-464 and, formerly, INO-464) is an experimental cancer medication which is under development by Viamet Pharmaceuticals and Innocrin Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of prostate cancer and breast canc ...

Clinical uses

CYP17A1 inhibitors, such as abiraterone acetate, are primarily used in the treatment of

prostate cancer Prostate cancer is the neoplasm, uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system below the bladder. Abnormal growth of the prostate tissue is usually detected through Screening (medicine), screening tests, ...

. These drugs reduce androgen levels, which helps to slow the progression of prostate cancer in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Combination with glucocorticoids

Non-selective CYP17A1 inhibitors that inhibit both the 17α-hydroxylase and 17,20-lyase functions must be administered alongside a

glucocorticoid Glucocorticoids (or, less commonly, glucocorticosteroids) are a class of corticosteroids, which are a class of steroid hormones. Glucocorticoids are corticosteroids that bind to the glucocorticoid receptor that is present in almost every vertebra ...

(e.g.,

prednisone Prednisone is a glucocorticoid medication mostly used to immunosuppressive drug, suppress the immune system and decrease inflammation in conditions such as asthma, COPD, and rheumatologic diseases. It is also used to treat high blood calcium ...

) to prevent

adrenal insufficiency Adrenal insufficiency is a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce adequate amounts of steroid hormones. The adrenal glands—also referred to as the adrenal cortex—normally secrete glucocorticoids (primarily cortisol), mineraloco ...

and

mineralocorticoid excess Hyperaldosteronism is a medical condition wherein too much aldosterone is produced. High aldosterone levels can lead to lowered levels of potassium in the blood ( hypokalemia) and increased hydrogen ion excretion ( alkalosis). Aldosterone is norm ...

. This precaution is necessary because non-selective inhibitors can disrupt

cortisol Cortisol is a steroid hormone in the glucocorticoid class of hormones and a stress hormone. When used as medication, it is known as hydrocortisone. Cortisol is produced in many animals, mainly by the ''zona fasciculata'' of the adrenal corte ...

production, leading to hormone imbalances.

References

External links