title: Ketoconazole in initial management and treatment of metastatic prostate cancer to spine.
abstract: Ketoconazole in high doses causes castrate levels of testosterone within twenty-four to forty-eight hours; therefore it is extremely useful in the initial medical treatment of patients with metastatic prostate cancer who need a prompt therapeutic response. Review of 17 patients who presented with severe radicular pain or acute paraparesis/paraplegia showed that there was frequent delay in urologic consultation, pathologic confirmation, and initiation of efficacious therapy. In fact, 5 of 12 patients (42%) who received radiation therapy prior to effective hormonal therapy suffered significant morbidity and mortality. The case is made for the use of ketoconazole for initial empirical therapy for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, New York.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Bamberger
authors.forename: F C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lowe
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary
chemical_list: D007654:Ketoconazole