Androgen deprivation in the management of prostatic carcinoma

Canadian Medical Association Journal 1996; 154: 864
Source: Pilepich MV, Krall JM, Al-Sarraf M et al: Androgen deprivation with radiation therapy compared with radiation therapy alone for locally advanced prostatic carcinoma: a randomized comparative trial of the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group. Urology 1995; 45: 616-623
In a multicentre randomized controlled trial researchers in the United States evaluated the use of androgen deprivation therapy as an adjunct to radiation therapy in the management of large, localized T2, T3 and T4 tumours of the prostate. The 456 patients were randomly assigned to receive goserelin and flutamide therapy before and during a course of radiation therapy, or radiation therapy alone. Compared with the patients receiving radiation alone, those who also received androgen deprivation therapy showed a significant decrease in local tumour progression, a trend toward decreased incidence of metastases and a significant improvement in disease-free survival rates at 5 years.
| CMAJ March 15, 1996 (vol 154, no 6) |