Prostat cancer is the most common type of cancer in men. At
the time of diagnosis, only 5% of prostat cancer patients have
the disease in advanced stage. While the 5 year overall survival
rate of the patients with locoregional disease is close to
100%, this ratio in patients with advanced disease decreases
to 28%. Prostat cancer cells depend on androgens for development,
proliferation and physiological function. The purpose
of the standard hormone therapy is to keep testesteron levels
in castrate levels. Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the
standard treatment approach in prostat cancer patients with advanced
stage. Although this treatment possesses many clinical
benefits, it has also side effects affecting many systems in the
body. This article evaluated the types and mechanisms of action
of ADT, the management of this treatments side effects,
and the controversial situations commonly encountered in daily
oncology practice in the light of current literature.
Keywords: Androgen deprivation therapy; prostate cancer
