[Intermittent androgen deprivation in advanced prostate cancer: a review]

At present androgen ablation therapy is the therapy of choice for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. However, in more than 50 % of the patients the disease will ultimately progress within 2 years.On the basis of the postulation from Bruchovsky et al. that intermittent androgen deprivation maintains the apoptotic potential, this may lead to a delay in tumour progression. By periodically changing phases from on to off the treatment quality of life for the patient may be improved. Most recent clinical data of phase II and III studies imply that IAB is equal effective as CAB. Although data about quality of life and overall survival are still limited, results seem to be comparable. In order to decide which patient groups are most likely to benefit from IAB, final phase III results need to be available.