[Suppressive effects of the antiandrogen flutamide on adrenal androgens in advanced prostate cancer patients].
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the influence of flutamide on plasma adrenal androgens in advanced prostate cancer patients treated with dietylstilbestrol diphosphate (DES-DP) followed by luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LH-RH agonist). Nine patients were enrolled in this study and they were divided into the following two treatment groups; group A: LHRH agonist mono-therapy (n = 4) and group B: LHRH agonist with flutamide (n = 5). For prevention of flare up, all patients were treated with DES-DP.


RESULTS
Two-week DES-DP administration led to reduction of plasma adrenal androgen levels. These levels were kept lower for 16 weeks in group B in contrast with group A in which the levels returned to the pretreatment levels. Basal ACTH levels in group B were significantly lower than those in group A.


CONCLUSIONS
From our observations, we found that flutamide reduced adrenal androgen levels in prostate cancer patients treated with LH-RH agonist. ACTH suppression might be related to this phenomenon.
Nakazato
H
H
Department of Urology, Gunma University School of Medicine.
Suzuki
K
K
Ito
K
K
Fukabori
Y
Y
Kurokawa
K
K
Yamanaka
H
H
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005485:Flutamide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000728:Androgens; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D005485:Flutamide; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; C004955:fosfestrol; D016729:Leuprolide