Maximum vs. mono androgen blockade and the risk of recurrence in men with localized prostate cancer undergoing brachytherapy.
OBJECTIVE
We examined whether maximum androgen blockade (MAB) is associated with a decreased recurrence risk vs. single-agent androgen suppression (monotherapy) for men undergoing brachytherapy (BT) for localized prostate cancer.


METHODS
Data from 223 men in the Cancer of the Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor database who received androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) concurrent with BT for intermediate- or high-risk prostatic adenocarcinoma were included; 159 (71%) received MAB, and 64 (29%) monotherapy (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist or anti-androgen alone). Cox regression analysis was performed to assess whether the choice of ADT was associated with disease recurrence adjusting for known prognostic factors.


RESULTS
Men who received MAB had similar Gleason scores, T categories, and pretreatment prostate-specific antigen as those who received monotherapy. After a median follow-up of 49 months, the use of MAB was not associated with a decrease in the risk recurrence (p = 0.72), after adjusting for known prognostic factors. A higher PSA at diagnosis (p = 0.03) and younger age at diagnosis (p < 0.01) were associated with increased recurrence risk. The 3-year recurrence free survival was 76% for patients in both monotherapy and MAB groups.


CONCLUSIONS
There are varied practice patterns in physicians' choice of the extent of concurrent ADT when used with brachytherapy for men with intermediate- or high-risk prostate cancer. Given a lack of demonstrated superiority from either ADT choice, both appear to be reasonable options.
Chen
Ronald C
RC
Harvard Radiation Oncology Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. rcchen@partners.org
Sadetsky
Natalia
N
Chen
Ming-Hui
MH
Carroll
Peter R
PR
D'Amico
Anthony V
AV
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D000368:Aged; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000819:agonists; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012306:Risk
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen