Androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer: current status and future prospects.
Androgens play a major role in promoting the development and progression of prostate cancer. As a result, androgen ablation or blockade of androgen action through the androgen receptor (AR) has been the cornerstone of treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Different strategies involving this hormonal therapy produce a significant clinical response in most of the patients, but most responders eventually lose dependency, resulting in mortality. Thus, whether hormonal therapy contributes to the improvement of overall survival rates, especially in patients with advanced prostate cancer, remains controversial. However, patients with advanced disease clearly have a benefit from androgen deprivation-based treatment for palliating their symptoms and for improving the quality of their lives. In order to improve overall survival, novel treatment strategies that prolong the androgen-dependent state and that are useful for androgen-independent disease based on specific molecular mechanisms need to be identified.
Miyamoto
Hiroshi
H
George Whipple Laboratory for Cancer Research, Departments of Pathology, Urology, and Radiation Oncology, and the Cancer Center, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA.
Messing
Edward M
EM
Chang
Chawnshang
C
D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000728:Androgens; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D011878:Radiotherapy; D011944:Receptors, Androgen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome; D017211:Treatment Failure
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D011944:Receptors, Androgen; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol