androgen ablation

androgen ablation

The therapeutic reduction of circulating androgens (testosterone and 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone) by either orchiectomy or by an luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist. Androgen ablation is commonly used in metastatic prostate cancer and results in disease attenuation (12–18 months) in up to 80% of patients. Androgen ablation can be augmented by flutamide, an androgen receptor antagonist that blocks the effect of androgens produced by the adrenal gland.