Progress in complete androgen blockade.
Complete androgen blockade (CAB) has been shown to increase the survival of patients with symptomatic advanced prostate cancer in three large well-conducted trials compared with castration alone. However, several smaller trials found no survival advantage with CAB. A recent meta-analysis of 22 trials of CAB involving over 5,000 patients showed a non-significant improvement in survival with CAB over castration, but had a number of methodological weaknesses, whereas a sensitivity analysis of published data showed a clear survival benefit. It is hoped that the results of a very large well-designed trial by the National Cancer Institute Intergroup (NCI INT-0105), in which 1,347 men have been randomised to orchidectomy plus flutamide (Eulexin, Schering-Plough International) or orchidectomy plus placebo will provide the definitive answer to this continuing controversy.
Trachtenberg
J
J
Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Canada.
D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015996:Survival Rate
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal