Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of androgen blockades on prostate specific antigen (PSA) values in patients with locally advanced and metastatic prostatic cancer.
Material and methods: The research was conducted on 60 patients. The group of 45 patients with prostatic cancer was divided into 3 subgroups, based on the type of the applied treatment protocol (15 patients on monotherapy with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists, 15 patients on total androgen blockade and 15 patients on monotherapy with antiandrogen). The control group consisted of 15 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. For all patients, the values of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and prostate specific antigen were monitored before as well as after 3 and 6 months during the treatment protocol.
Results: All types of the applied treatment protocols in the therapy of prostatic cancer decreased the values of prostate specific antigen significantly. The application of total androgen blockade and monotherapy with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists decreased the levels of prostate specific antigen significantly in comparison with monotherapy with antiandrogen.
Conclusion: Although prostate specific antigen is not a prostatic cancer specific parameter; the dynamics of its decrease during the therapy of androgen blockade represents a significant marker of the therapy effect.