Flutamide has no effect on adrenal androgen response to acute ACTH stimulation in patients with prostatic cancer.

Basal levels and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-induced increments (delta-values) of serum cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS), 4-androstene-3, 17-dione (A4), and 17-hydroxyprogesterone (170HP); basal testosterone (T), luteinizing hormone (LH), serum ASAT, gamma-GT, and albumin were measured in prostatic cancer patients before and after 6 months of treatment with LH-RH-agonist, with flutamide, and with LH-RH-agonist + flutamide, respectively. Basal DHA and DHAS were decreased during flutamide and LH-RH-agonist + flutamide treatment and basal A4 during treatment with LH-RH-agonist and with LH-RH-agonist + flutamide. Basal 170HP, T, and LH decreased during LH-RH-agonist and LH-RH-agonist + flutamide treatment and increased during single drug flutamide treatment. Slightly decreased delta cortisol values were observed during LH-RH-agonist and during flutamide treatment and slightly increased delta 170HP values during LH-RH-agonist and LH-RH-agonist + flutamide treatment. Values for delta DHA and delta A4 were completely unaffected by any of the treatment regimens. Elevated ASAT values were observed during treatment with flutamide and with LH-RH-agonist + flutamide. It is concluded that flutamide has no effect on the adrenal androgen response to acute ACTH stimulation.