ADT for Prostate Cancer

In the 1990s, reversible androgen suppression with the use of luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone analogues and oral antiandrogen agents was shown to induce apoptotic regression in androgen-responsive cancers, potentially improving the prospects of local control and the duration of survival free of metastatic disease.
Clinical Pearls

How can short-term androgen deprivation be achieved?
In this study, patients assigned to short-term androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) received flutamide at a dose of 250 mg orally three times a day and either monthly subcutaneous goserelin at a dose of 3.6 mg or intramuscular leuprolide at a dose of 7.5 mg for 4 months.
How more effective was ADT with radiotherapy as compared to radiotherapy alone for patients with localized prostate cancer in this study?
According to the results of this study, the 10-year rate of overall survival was 62% among patients receiving radiotherapy plus short-term ADT (the combined-therapy group) versus 57% among patients receiving radiotherapy alone (hazard ratio for death with radiotherapy alone, 1.17; P=0.03). The addition of short-term ADT was associated with a decrease in the 10-year disease-specific mortality from 8% to 4% (hazard ratio for radiotherapy alone, 1.87; P=0.001).
Morning Report Questions
Q. Which group of patients benefited the most from ADT in this study?
A. The addition of short-term ADT to radiotherapy conferred the greatest clinical benefit in the intermediate-risk subgroup, with an increase in the 10-year rate of overall survival from 54 to 61% and a reduction in the 10-year disease-specific mortality from 10 to 3%.
Q. What are adverse effects of ADT?
A. In prospective studies, short-term ADT caused measurable muscle loss, fat accumulation, decreased insulin sensitivity, and increased cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
@NEJM