title: Secondary hormonal therapies in the treatment of prostate cancer.
abstract: Patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer demonstrate progression of disease, despite chemical or surgical castration, and have a poor prognosis. Cancer progression may be manifest as an asymptomatic increase in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or may be accompanied by symptomatic and/or radiographic evidence of tumor growth. Observation remains a reasonable choice for asymptomatic patients. However, many patients remain anxious about withholding further treatment and, although studies have not demonstrated a survival benefit with second-line hormonal therapy, it may be appropriate to consider these therapies. In patients who have radiographic and/or symptomatic progression, the use of second-line hormonal therapy is more easily justified. Treatment options include: (1) secondary use of antiandrogens (eg, high-dose bicalutamide), (2) therapies targeted against adrenal steroid synthesis (eg, ketoconazole, aminoglutethimide, and corticosteroids), and (3) estrogenic therapies (eg, diethylstilbestrol). Symptomatic improvement and PSA-level decreases of > or =50% have been reported in approximately 20% to 80% of patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer who receive such second-line hormone therapies, with a typical response duration of 2 to 6 months. Toxicity is generally mild for these oral therapies, although serious side effects, including adrenal insufficiency, liver toxicity, and thrombosis, may occur. In conclusion, secondary hormonal therapies have a significant role in the treatment of patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer. Further research is needed to understand their optimal use.
authors.affiliation: Department of Adult Oncology, Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. william_oh@dfci.harvard.edu
authors.forename: William K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: OH
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000813:Anilides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019290:Megestrol Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009570:Nitriles; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D014105:Tosyl Compounds
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000813:Anilides; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004967:Estrogens; D009570:Nitriles; D014105:Tosyl Compounds; C053541:bicalutamide; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D019290:Megestrol Acetate