Phase Ib/II Study Evaluating Orteronel (Without Prednisone) Combined With Itraconazole In Men With Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC)

This research is being done to test the safety and anti-cancer activity of the combination of an investigational drug called orteronel, with a drug called itraconazole in the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer. Orteronel is an investigational drug known as a 17,20-lyase enzyme inhibitor, meaning that it blocks the formation of male sex hormones. Itraconazole is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of various fungal infections such as fingernail/toenail infections and other more serious fungal infections. While it has shown evidence of activity against prostate cancer in prior studies, it is not approved for use in cancer. The FDA is allowing the use of orteronel and itraconazole in this research study. In addition to its antifungal properties, itraconazole was discovered to function to block angiogenesis (blood vessel formation to tumors) to block a cellular pathway thought to be important in prostate cancer known as the Hedgehog pathway. Investigators hypothesize that blocking male sex hormone production with orteronel will increase reliance on the Hedgehog pathway in prostate cancer cells which can then be blocked with itraconazole and that the combination of these two drugs will be more effective than either alone.