Study shows promise for antiandrogens in prostate cancer treatment

The study compared the antiandrogen therapy with radiation therapy plus placebo.
The study compared the antiandrogen therapy with radiation therapy plus placebo. | File image

American Pharmacists Association (APA) research shows adding 24 months of antiandrogen therapy with daily bicalutamide to salvage radiation therapy led to an increase in survival rates for patients with recurrent prostate cancer.

The study compared the antiandrogen therapy with radiation therapy plus placebo. According to the data, the therapy can lead to higher rates of long-term overall survival, in addition to lower incidences of metastatic prostate cancer and death from prostate therapy.

The study examined 760 men, all of whom had disease with a tumor stage of T2 or T3 no nodal involvement, and a detectable PSA level of 0.2–4.0 ng per milliliter. The participants had also undergone prostatectomy with a lymphadenectomy.

The National Cancer Institute and AstraZeneca funded the research.