16 Jul Localized Prostate Cancer: Study Finds Primary Androgen Deprivation Therapy Not Associated With Survival Benefit

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Grace Lu-Yao PhD, MPH
Professor of Medicine
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2681

Medical Research: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. Lu-Yao: Primary ADT (ie., use of androgen deprivation as an alternative to surgery, radiation or conservative management for the initial management of prostate cancer) is not associated with improved overall or disease specific survival.

Medical Research: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Dr. Lu-Yao: In our last report, primary androgen deprivation therapy was associated with a borderline survival benefit for patients with high grade Gleason 8-10 disease; however, the effect is no longer evident and it does not seem that any set of patients benefits from this treatment.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Lu-Yao: Primary androgen deprivation therapy is not effective in improving survival among elderly patients with localized prostate cancer. Given the side effects associated with the treatment, the risks of the treatment are likely to outweigh any potential benefit for older patients (>65 years of age) with low-risk disease.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Lu-Yao: A randomized study designed specifically to answer this question would be the best way to confirm the results.

Citation:

Last Updated on July 16, 2014 by Marie Benz MD FAAD