[Combined anti-androgen treatment in adenocarcinoma of the prostate: first use of a new therapeutically efficacious principle in hormone-dependent cancer].

Since the first observation reported by Huggins et al. in 1941, hormonal treatment of advanced prostatic cancer has been directed primarily at neutralizing testicular androgens by orchiectomy or estrogen therapy. These two approaches yielded a 60 to 80% positive response rate in the many studies carried out over the last forty years. However, responses were short-lived and the disease recurred rapidly in nearly every case. A possible reason for these limited results may well be related to the fact that a unique characteristic of man as compared to other species is a high level of secretion of adrenal steroids that act as precursors and are converted into androgens within the prostatic tissue itself. Complete neutralization of both testicular and adrenal androgens is therefore mandatory to achieve total suppression of the influence of androgens on the carcinoma. To accomplish this goal, we have used a combination of an LHRH agonist (or orchiectomy) and a pure antiandrogen in fifty-two previously untreated patients with prostatic carcinoma and bone metastases (stage D2). Average duration of treatment was eighteen months (six to thirty-two months). An objective positive response assessed according to the criteria set forward by the National Prostatic Cancer Project (NPCP) was recorded during the first treatment months in every case, a significant improvement over the 60 to 80% positive response rate following previous treatments confined to neutralization of testicular androgens by orchiectomy or estrogens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)