ANTIANDROGEN WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME

Since the mid-forties androgen deprivation is regarded the standard tr eatment of incurable prostate cancer. Antiandrogens can be given eithe r as monotherapy or in combination with bilateral orchidectomy or gona dotrapin-releasing-hormone analoga. Recently reports have been publish ed that withdrawal of antiandrogens in patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer caused reduction of PSA and clinical improvement. Thu s, in patients who progress under maximal androgen blockade or antiand rogen-monotherapy the antiandrogen should first be withdrawn and - in case of monotherapy - be replaced by GnRH-analoga. In approximately 30 -50 % of the cases a reduction of serum-PSA can be expected lasting fo r approx. 6 months. In some patients an improvement of symptoms and ob jective remission is observed.