Newer methods of hormonal therapy for prostate cancer.
At least 80 per cent of prostatic tumors exhibit some degree of hormone responsiveness. The preferred method of hormonal alteration has yet to be determined because new agents are currently undergoing clinical trials. The compounds tested have included cyproterone acetate, a progestational agent; flutamide, an antiandrogen that blocks the DHT-receptor complex in the tumor cell; and aminoglutethimide, which inhibits adrenal steroid production and, therefore, might further lower the level of circulating androgen following bilateral orchiectomy. The introduction of potent, synthetic analogues of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) has provided another method of reducing the level of circulating androgen. A recent report on the efficacy of one of these analogues--leuprolide--in men with newly diagnosed metastatic prostatic cancer has revealed an initial response rate of 76 per cent (4% complete remissions, 32% partial remissions, and 40% stable) using National Prostatic Cancer Project criteria.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000616:Aminoglutethimide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D002064:Buserelin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005485:Flutamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide; D008297:Male; D008535:Megestrol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019290:Megestrol Acetate; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D010906:Pituitary Hormone-Releasing Hormones; D000616:Aminoglutethimide; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D005485:Flutamide; D008535:Megestrol; D016729:Leuprolide; D002064:Buserelin; D019290:Megestrol Acetate