Intermittent Androgen Deprivation with Goserelin and Flutamide for Prostate Cancer: a Pilot Study / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using intermittent androgen deprivation(IAD) in patients with prostate cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 29 patients treated with IAD for prostate cancer. Androgen deprivation with goserelin and flutamide was continued for at least 4 months after serum prostate specific antigen(PSA) became undetectable or a nadir level was reached. Medication was then discontinued until serum PSA reached a predetermined level. This cycle of treatment was repeated until there was evidence of androgen independence. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients completed the on-treatment during cycle 1, with a median time to PSA nadir of 3 months. Nine patients completed cycle 1 with a median time of off-treatment of 11 months(38% of a treatment cycle). Eight patients continued the off-treatment during cycle 1 for 1+ to 8+ months. During cycle 2, 3 patients achieved a PSA nadir in a median time of 3.5 months. While off treatment, most patients reported reduction of symptoms associated with androgen suppression. CONCLUSIONS: IAD is a feasible alternative for continuous androgen deprivation for treatment of prostate cancer. It also results in the reducion of toxicity, cost of treatment, and possibly a delay in tumor progression.