Androgen deprivation for minimal metastatic disease: Threshold for achieving undetectable prostate-specific antigen Journal Article


Authors: Beekman, K.; Morris, M.; Slovin, S.; Heller, G.; Wilton, A.; Bianco, F.; Scardino, P. T.; Scher, H. I.
Article Title: Androgen deprivation for minimal metastatic disease: Threshold for achieving undetectable prostate-specific antigen
Abstract: Objectives. To develop objective measures to select systemic therapies for study in large-scale trials for patients with lesser tumor burdens, we explored prostate-specific antigen (PSA) changes after androgen ablation in patients with disease progression after treatment of localized disease. Long-term follow-up of trials incorporating androgen-deprivation with local therapy have shown improved survival relative to local therapy alone. This suggests that the benchmark for treatment of minimal metastatic disease can be cure. Methods. Patients with a rising PSA level with or without clinical metastases after local therapy who received androgen deprivation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer were identified from two institutional databases. The primary outcome was the proportion achieving an undetectable PSA level, and the pretreatment parameters associated with this endpoint were evaluated. Results. A total of 130 patients who received androgen ablation and were followed up at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center were identified. Overall, 31 (57%) of 54 (95% confidence interval 44% to 71%) patients with a rising PSA level alone and 28 (37%) of 76 (95% confidence interval 26% to 47%) patients with a rising PSA level and clinical metastases achieved an undetectable PSA level after androgen ablation (P = 0.02). The PSA level at the start of androgen ablation and the presence of metastases were the most significant predictive factors. Conclusions. The probability of achieving an undetectable PSA level varied inversely with the disease extent. Although achieving an undetectable PSA level does not mean that a patient has been cured, it does establish an endpoint that can be used to identify approaches worthy of study in the Phase III setting. © 2005 Elsevier Inc.
Keywords: adult; cancer survival; controlled study; aged; aged, 80 and over; middle aged; major clinical study; cancer growth; follow up; prostate specific antigen; metastasis; cancer therapy; prediction; prostate cancer; prostate-specific antigen; prostatic neoplasms; cancer vaccines; prostatectomy; androgen antagonists; neoplasm metastasis; antineoplastic agents, hormonal; androgen deprivation therapy; gonadotropin-releasing hormone
Journal Title: Urology
Volume: 65
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0090-4295
Publisher: Elsevier Science, Inc.  
Date Published: 2005-05-01
Start Page: 947
End Page: 952
Language: English
DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2004.12.012
PUBMED: 15882729
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: --- - "Cited By (since 1996): 6" - "Export Date: 24 October 2012" - "CODEN: URGYA" - "Source: Scopus"
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MSK Authors
  1. Kathleen Woodruff Beekman
    12 Beekman
  2. Andrew Wilton
    27 Wilton
  3. Glenn Heller
    399 Heller
  4. Susan Slovin
    254 Slovin
  5. Michael Morris
    577 Morris
  6. Peter T Scardino
    671 Scardino
  7. Howard Scher
    1130 Scher
  8. Fernando J Bianco
    72 Bianco