The significance of clinical study of endocrine therapy for locally advanced prostate cancer

Abstract

Objectives In order to discuss the differentiation between intermittent androgen deprivation and continuous androgen deprivation for the hormonal therapy of locally advanced prostate cancer.Methods We retrospectively reviewed 52 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of locally advanced prostate cancer in urology department of our Hospital between November 2006 and October 2012.All the patients were performed with androgen-deprivation therapy,Of them,an intermittent androgen deprivation(IAD) was performed in 27 cases and continuous androgen deprivation(CAD) in 25,Patients' quality of life also was measured by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire PR25(EORTC QLQ-PR25),Compared clinical symptom、the time to prostate cancer progression 、quality of life and side effects between the two groups.Results The mean follow-up period was(41.4 ± 1.2)monthsin group IAD and (37.2 ±2.5)monthsin group CAD.The median time to disease progression was 35.6 months in group IAD and 30.2 months in group CAD,respectively.there was a significant difference between group IAD and CAD in the progression-free survival rate(P ＜0.05).The average expense of IAD and CAD is7809 ±504yuan and 9927 ±865 yuan respectively(P ＜0.05).During the treatment period,QOL scores of the patient in group IAD reflected improvement in urinary symptoms,treatment-related symptoms and sexual function betterthan the group CAD(P ＜0.05),two groups of patients with bowel symptoms was no significant difference(P ＞0.05) ;the IAD group of 27 patients with hot flashes in 7 cases(25.9％),4 cases of breast tenderness(14.8％) ;the CAD group of 25 patients with hot flashes in 13 cases(52.0％),breast tenderness in 11 cases (44.0％),two groups were compared the incidence of hot flashes and breast tenderness significant difference (P ＜0.05).Conclusions IAD therapy can minimize the side effects of androgen deprivation therapy while maximize the clinical benefits and patients' quality of life,decrease the doses,prolonging the time to androgen-independent prostate cancer than CAD therapy,IAD therapy is an effective approach for the therapy in treating locally advanced prostate cancer. Key words: Prostatic Neoplasms ; Androgens