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Androgen Deprivation Therapy

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Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy in Urologic Oncology

Abstract

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been the standard of care for treating advanced prostate cancer for many decades. Prostate cancer cells are generally androgen-dependent, and most patients with advanced disease will respond to ADT in some form or another. Androgen deprivation therapy is utilized in the suppression of testosterone production. ADT may be used as a sole or primary treatment. It is utilized in men with prostate cancer who are of advanced age, who have significant comorbidities, and who decline curative therapy (Tanagho et al., Smith’s general urology. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., 2008). There are four methods to block androgen: (1) removal of the sources of androgens, (2) use of LHRH agonists/GnRH antagonists, (3) use of antiandrogens, and (4) inhibition of androgen synthesis.

ADT has significant side effects such as hot flashes, decreased libido, osteoporosis, decreased sexual function and drive, and metabolic and cardiac effects. Most are mild to moderate and good quality of life can be achieved with its use.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Urology of Virginia, Virginia Beach, VA, USA

    Charlene Reyes

  2. Urology of Virginia, Schellhammer Cancer Center, Virginia Beach, VA, USA

    Carla Groshel

  3. Urology of Virginia, LLC, Virginia Beach, VA, USA

    Robert Given

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  1. Charlene Reyes
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  2. Carla Groshel
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  3. Robert Given
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Correspondence to Carla Groshel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Edouard J. Trabulsi

  2. Department of Urology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Costas D. Lallas

  3. Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Anne E. Lizardi-Calvaresi

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Reyes, C., Groshel, C., Given, R. (2021). Androgen Deprivation Therapy. In: Trabulsi, E.J., Lallas, C.D., Lizardi-Calvaresi, A.E. (eds) Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy in Urologic Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52021-2_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-52021-2_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-52020-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-52021-2

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