Patient selection for maximal androgen deprivation

摘要

After many clinical trials and extensive clinical experience, we now know that maximal androgen deprivation offers improved response rates and progression-free survival in a significant number of patients. The clinician responsible for treating a patient with advanced prostate cancer has an obligation to be aware of the ever changing events and to inform the patient as well as possible of the potential benefit and the side effects associated with the various forms of androgen deprivation, be it a single modality or a combination regimen. Cost may be a factor and the patient should be so informed. The medical community has an obligation to continue searching for the optimal means of androgen deprivation in terms not only of survival but also of quality-of-life issues.