Can combined androgen blockade provide long-term control or possible cure of localized prostate cancer?
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the possibility that more complete blockade of androgens or combined androgen blockade (CAB) could lead to even longer term control of localized prostate cancer. A series of recent studies have shown important benefits on survival using medical or surgical castration in localized or locally advanced prostate cancer. METHODS: The effect of CAB on long-term control or possible cure of prostate cancer was evaluated by the absence of biochemical failure or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) rise for at least 5 years after cessation of continuous treatment. A total of 57 patients with localized or locally advanced disease received CAB for periods ranging from 1 to 11 years. Twenty patients with Stage B2/T2 prostate cancer who were treated for a median duration of 7.2 years (range 2.8 to 11.7) with CAB stopped treatment and were followed up for a median of 4.9 years. Eleven patients with Stage B2/T2 also received CAB but for only 1 year. Twenty-six patients with Stage
