Oral Androgen Deprivation Therapy: A Versatile Tool in Prostate Cancer Treatment
Oral androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) options are proving to be a flexible and valuable component in the management of prostate cancer. These medications seamlessly integrate into diverse treatment strategies, addressing a spectrum of disease severities.
Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, highlights the utility of oral agents, particularly for patients with unfavorable intermediate-risk localized disease requiring radiation therapy. Their application extends to advanced metastatic cases, showcasing their broad applicability.
The convenience of oral ADT is especially beneficial for patients with high-volume metastatic hormone-sensitive disease. In these critical situations, immediate testosterone suppression is paramount, and oral options can circumvent the concerning risk of testosterone flare associated with traditional agonists.
This oral approach simplifies treatment regimens for patients already managing multiple oral medications, such as androgen receptor pathway inhibitors. The integration of an oral ADT reduces the complexity of coordinating various therapies, perhaps improving patient adherence and decreasing the need for frequent clinic visits for injections.
For individuals experiencing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) recurrence after local therapy,oral ADT presents distinct advantages. The HERO study, as an example, demonstrated that over 50% of patients achieved normalized testosterone levels within 90 days of discontinuing relugolix. This rapid recovery contrasts with the potentially longer or even permanent suppression seen with injectable agents
