Changes in neuronal activation patterns in response to androgen deprivation therapy: a pilot study.
BACKGROUND
A common treatment option for men with prostate cancer is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). However, men undergoing ADT may experience physical side effects, changes in quality of life and sometimes psychiatric and cognitive side effects.


METHODS
In this study, hormone naïve patients without evidence of metastases with a rising PSA were treated with nine months of ADT. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain during three visuospatial tasks was performed at baseline prior to treatment and after nine months of ADT in five subjects. Seven healthy control patients, underwent neuroimaging at the same time intervals.


RESULTS
ADT patients showed reduced, task-related BOLD-fMRI activation during treatment that was not observed in control subjects. Reduction in activation in right parietal-occipital regions from baseline was observed during recall of the spatial location of objects and mental rotation.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings, while preliminary, suggest that ADT reduces task-related neural activation in brain regions that are involved in mental rotation and accurate recall of spatial information.
Cherrier
Monique M
MM
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. cherrier@u.washington.edu
Borghesani
Paul R
PR
Shelton
Amy L
AL
Higano
Celestia S
CS
D000368:Aged; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013028:Space Perception
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens