Pituitary adrenal and gonadal endocrine suppression for the primary treatment of prostate cancer.
Sixty new patients with advanced local or metastatic prostatic cancer were randomised to receive either bilateral orchiectomy, orchiectomy plus dexamethasone 0.5 mg in the morning and 0.3 mg at night, or orchiectomy plus cyproterone acetate 100 mg 3 times per day. All surviving patients have been followed up for a minimum of 2 years. An improvement in both objective and subjective responses in patients receiving dexamethasone compared with those receiving cyproterone acetate suggests a possible additional role for the pituitary in the control of prostatic tumour growth. A larger study with longer follow-up may be indicated.
Williams
G
G
Department of Surgery, Hammersmith Hospital, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London.
Asopa
R
R
Abel
P D
PD
Smith
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000735:Androstenedione / Q000097:blood; D003534:Cyproterone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D013739:Testosterone; D000735:Androstenedione; D017373:Cyproterone Acetate; D003907:Dexamethasone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D003534:Cyproterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone