The effects of combined androgen blockade on cognitive function during the first cycle of intermittent androgen suppression in patients with prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Men with prostate specific antigen (PSA) only relapse of prostate cancer after primary therapy are generally fully functional and asymptomatic with a life expectancy of up to 10 or more years. These patients are often treated with androgen suppression. We evaluate the effects of androgen suppression on cognitive function.


METHODS
Hormone naïve patients without evidence of metastases with an increasing PSA were treated with intermittent androgen suppression consisting of 9 months of leuprolide and flutamide followed by an off treatment period determined by the increase in PSA. Cognitive function tests were administered at baseline, after 9 months of androgen suppression and after 3 months off treatment. Cognitive tests measured spatial abilities, spatial memory, verbal fluency, verbal memory and selective attention. A total of 19 patients 52 to 76 years old completed the intermittent androgen suppression study along with 15 healthy community dwelling control participants.


RESULTS
Combined androgen blockade reduced PSA and testosterone in all patients compared to baseline. Patients did not significantly change on measures of verbal and spatial memory, executive functions or language. Patients declined on a measure of spatial rotation and improved on a measure of verbal memory during treatment which continued during the off treatment period.


CONCLUSIONS
Although preliminary, these findings demonstrate that 9 months of combined androgen blockade resulted in a beneficial effect on verbal memory but adversely affected a measure of spatial ability. Intermittent androgen suppression for a period of 9 months in otherwise healthy men with prostate cancer may have beneficial and adverse effects on cognition that are selective.
Cherrier
M M
MM
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Box 358280-116 MIRECCO, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. cherrier@u.washington.edu
Rose
A L
AL
Higano
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005485:Flutamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016729:Leuprolide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000187:drug effects; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D013739:Testosterone; D005485:Flutamide; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D016729:Leuprolide