Immediate versus deferred initiation of androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer patients with PSA-only relapse. By Garcia-Albeniz et al. 2014
Concluding summary from the paper: "[This] study suggests little or not survival benefit of immediate ADT initiation... compared with deferred ADT initiation (at clinical progression or at least two years after PSA relapse) among prostate cancer patients with PSA-only relapse.
For the full abstract, see: http://abstracts.asco.org/144/AbstView_144_131550.html
Commentary: ASCO, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, has a huge annual meeting where the latest findings on cancer care are presented. This abstract was presented at the most recent ASCO meeting.
It has long been a debate as to when patients with a rising PSA levels after primary treatment, should start on ADT. Some physicians suggest that cancer is better controlled by starting ADT early. Others are worried about the side effect burden from ADT and suggest that patients maintain a better quality of life if they wait longer before starting on ADT. These researchers show that there is little or no survival benefit to beginning ADT early, as opposed to waiting until a later date (when more clinical signs of disease progression emerge).
Garcia-Albeniz X, Chan JM, Paciorek AT, Logan RW, Kenfield SA, Cooperberg MR, Caroll P, Hernan M. 2014. Immediate versus deferred initiation of androgen deprivation therapy in prostate cancer patients with PSA-only relapse. Journal of Clinical Oncology 32:5s (Suppl, abstract 5003).