title: Intermittent androgen deprivation in prostate cancer cases with biochemical progression after radical prostatectomy: Are we ready to treat?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate clinical data from published trials on the use of intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) therapy in patients with biochemical relapse after radical prostatectomy (RP).
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the Medline and Cochrane Library databases for literature published on IAD and biochemical progression after radical prostatectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To date, we have oncological and functional data from phase 3 studies focused on metastatic and locally advanced stages that confirmed IAD as a valid option treatment. For the aim of this review, only Tunn study, was specifically focused on patients who relapsed after surgery but clear and mature results are still missed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of IAD in cases who relapse after RP is common in the clinical practice. Although specific recommendation on the use of IAD in this setting of patients are not available, we concluded that the real benefit of IAD in terms of long survival and quality of life is mainly for patients treated with surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Sapienza Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cattarino
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Sapienza Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salciccia
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Sapienza Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gentilucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Sapienza Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Innocenzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Sapienza Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gentile
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Sapienza Rome, Italy. Electronic address: sciarra.md@libero.it.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sciarra
mesh_terms: D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D000726:Androgen Antagonists
keywords: Biochemical failure; Intermittent androgen deprivation therapy; Prostate cancer; Radical prostatectomy; Radiotherapy