Recently, there has been a proliferation of experimental and clinical data
supporting early androgen deprivation for advanced prostatic cancer, due to the new
insights provided by a more thorough understanding of prostate cancer biology. The
logn term survival of patients with prostatic metastatic disease will require the development
of novel treatment strategies truly effective against anti-androgen-resistant tumor
cells and their use in concert with early androgen deprivation. To date, no evidence has
been generated in experimental animal or human models of prostate cancer that
supports the previous concept of delayed hormonal therapy.
The development of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists and
the anti-androgens has prompted a resurgence of interest in initial total androgen
blockade, and the inhibition of the activity of 5-alpha reductase could provide a safe
and effective way to remove prostatic intraepithelial dihydrotestosterone, resulting in a
diminishing production of growth factors. The rationale for the use of Sumarin in the
treatment of stage D prostatic cancer refractory to conventional hormonal manipulation
is its ability to block the activity of several growth factors, including basic fibroblast
growth factor (bFGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF), etc. which have been
postulated to have important roles in prostatic cell biolgy
