Which patients with prostate cancer are actually candidates for hormone therapy?

Abstract

In this article, we will try to address the following aspects: which factors are responsible of the introduction of new candidates for hormone therapy in prostate cancer, who are actually candidates for hormone therapy, classifying them on the basis of the stage of the disease, and which treatment modalities can be proposed for each candidate. Since the introduction of hormone therapy for the treatment of prostate cancer, there has been a debate about the optimal timing of hormone therapy. A modification in the timing of hormone therapy produced new candidates for hormone manipulation. In particular, the use of hormone treatment for younger patients, longer periods and early prostate cancer, absolutely requires a whole re-evaluation of which therapy is indicated and it may produce new problems such as higher risk of over-treatment, need of a better evaluation of quality of life in younger patients and the research for better tolerated therapies. Therapies that resist for longer periods without the production of a hormone-refractory disease are also required.