title: Tolerability assessment of maximal androgen blockade with 50 mg daily of bicalutamide and castration in patients with advanced prostate cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Androgen is the most important growth factor for the development and growth of prostatic adenocarcinomas. For patients with advanced prostate cancer, hormonal manipulation including castration and antiandrogen therapy is a well-established mode of treatment. The choice of hormonal therapy for prostate cancer depends not only on the desired progression-free and overall survival, but also on the patient's quality of life, treatment costs, and treatment toxicities.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an open, non-comparative trial to determine the tolerability of 50 mg bicalutamide (Casodex) in combination with castration; we also investigated whether the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) rates of change at weeks 4 and 12 were indicative of an increased risk of progression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven patients were enrolled in the study from December 1996 to June 1999 in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan. The overall incidence rate of adverse events was 27%. The most frequent adverse event was hot flushes (5.4%). The rate of overall disease response was 85.3%. No evidence was found for any predictive relationship between serum PSA concentration and risk of progression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The overall results indicate that bicalutamide administered as a 50-mg daily dosage in combination with castration is a well-tolerated therapy for the treatment of patients with advanced prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taipei, ROC. chuang89@cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Cheng-Keng
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Sheng-Hsien
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Yang-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.forename: Chun-Te
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Mei-Hsiu
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Tsuei-Yuan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Su-Jeng
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000813:Anilides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009570:Nitriles; D009919:Orchiectomy; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D014105:Tosyl Compounds
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000813:Anilides; D009570:Nitriles; D014105:Tosyl Compounds; C053541:bicalutamide; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen