title: A new look at an old option in the treatment of early-stage prostate cancer: hormone therapy as an alternative to watchful waiting.
abstract: Watchful waiting is an attractive option in the management of early-stage, low-grade prostate cancer because of the high financial costs and complication risks associated with surgery and radiotherapy. Despite the drawbacks of current local therapy, neither treatment can demonstrate a discernible survival benefit over observation alone. Even the slowest progressing disease, however, can potentially develop into a deadly medical problem. As a result, physicians and patients frequently have difficulty accepting untreated cancer. Therefore, we propose that another option be considered in cases of prostate cancer that would otherwise qualify for observation alone: the use of two oral hormonal agents, flutamide and finasteride, to achieve complete androgen blockade. Some evidence exists which suggests that such therapy may improve symptom-free survival, and perhaps overall survival as well. This 'aggressive' form of 'conservative' therapy may satisfy patient concerns that are not adequately addressed by current forms of therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, Michael Reese/University of Chicago, Center for Radiation Therapy, IL, USA.
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: P Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wayne
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vaida
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vijayakumar
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors