Treatment of prostatic carcinoma with cyproterone acetate.

Sixteen patients with prostatic carcinoma were treated with 200 mg of Cyproterone acetate daily. No other kind of hormonal treatment was administered. Increasing skeletal metastases were observed in 6 patients, whereas significant reduction of metastases took place in 2 patients. Objective relief of stranguria was observed only in 3 patients. The amount of residual urine increased in 3 patients and was reduced in 5. In about one third of the patients, the prostate gland became smaller and softer. The acidic phosphatases decreased from pathological to normal values in 7 patients. There were no observed hepatic, renal or haemotological side-effects. However, serious cardio-vascular complications occurred in 6 patients, while arterial hypertension developed in 4. It is suggested that Cyproterone acetate cannot be recommended as the only kind of hormonal treatment of prostatic cancer.