Prostate cancer
Start with the big picture
ADT is foundational in advanced or metastatic prostate cancer, with a treatment goal of maintaining serum testosterone below 50 ng/dL. Initial androgen deprivation can use LHRH agonists, which may cause a transient testosterone flare, or LHRH antagonists, which suppress testosterone without that initial flare. Anti-androgens can help prevent flare when an agonist is started and may be used as part of combined androgen blockade. The broader treatment landscape includes androgen receptor inhibitors, abiraterone, chemotherapy, and selected targeted or immune therapies. Their use depends on factors such as disease state, symptoms, metastatic pattern, and molecular findings. Supportive care also includes attention to bone health. The full lesson develops these treatment groups and their roles in prostate cancer care.
What you'll learn
- Describe the treatment goal of androgen deprivation therapy.
- Distinguish LHRH agonists from LHRH antagonists, including their effects on testosterone flare.
- Explain the roles of anti-androgens and newer androgen-pathway inhibitors.
- Identify how disease features and molecular markers inform selected treatment options.
- Recognize the place of bone-protective agents in supportive care.
Continue your study
Work through the complete notes and reinforce the topic with the study tools available in the full lesson.
