| abstract |
An improved method and products for the primary hormonal treatment of early stage, low and intermediate risk prostate cancers by prostatic implants of androgen suppressive drugs formulated as fused with a lipoid carrier or encapsulated in microcapsules or in Silastic capsules is provided. Such prostatic implants renders a constant slow-release of their contents to the prostate for extended periods by biodegradation and diffusion. It facilitates higher prostatic and lower systemic concentrations of androgen suppressive hormones. Because of their high prostatic and lower systemic concentrations, tumor control is much improved and the their systemic toxicity is minimized. Tumor control after such primary hormonal implant treatment is followed by clinical examinations and the biochemical tumor control is followed by periodic estimations of serum levels of PSA and acid phosphatase. More complex and expensive surgery or radiation therapy for this group of good prognostic early stage prostate cancer is reserved for those patients failing to this primary hormonal treatment. It will preserve potency more than by surgery or radiation therapy. Furthermore, it would reduce the cost of treatment for early stage prostate cancer significantly. Androgen suppressive hormonal implants to the prostate before, during or after lower dose conventional radiation therapy would also facilitate equal or better cure rates of localized prostate cancer as compared to the more complex and toxic higher dose radiation therapy. |