'Potential Benefits of Intermittent Androgen Suppression Therapy in the Treatment of Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature' is the title of an article by P-A. Abrahamsson in the January issue of European Urology, the official journal of the European Association of Urology. The author evaluates available evidence regarding the efficacy and tolerability of intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) and assess its value in the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa).
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most common male cancer worldwide and the most frequently occurring in Europe (20.3% of the total in 2006). Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) has progressed since 1941 when surgical castration was shown to improve PCa
outcomes. The well-known side effect profile of ADT has significant quality-of-life implications such as sexual dysfunction, hot flushes, fatigue etc. Furthermore, it appears that androgen suppression causes a change in stem cells from an androgen-dependent to an androgen-independent phenotype. Because this progression to androgen independence is thought to begin early after treatment initiation, stopping androgen deprivation prior to this change occurring should restore apoptotic potential and help tumour cells remain sensitive to re-initiating treatment.
The strategy behind IAD, therefore, is to alternate androgen blockade with treatment cessation, allowing hormonal recovery between treatment periods, thus potentially improving tolerability and quality of life.
The author wishes to evaluate available evidence regarding the efficacy and tolerability of IAD and assess its value in the treatment of PCa. Key phase 2/3 clinical trials of IAD in PCa published within the last 10 years were identified on Medline using different search terms.