[The effect of aminoglutethimide on steroid synthesis of the adrenal gland and its use in prostate cancer].

Following the hypothesis of depressing adrenal androgens in patients with relapsed prostatic carcinoma using Aminoglutethimide (AG), we performed a prospective study during three years, beginning in 1983. Twenty orchiectomized men aged 61-83 (mean 77) with progressive prostate carcinoma stage D2 (T0-4 Nx M1) were included. They received 4 x 250 mg AG and 50 mg cortisone daily. Overall response, according to NPCP-criteria, was 30% after 3 months (1 patient with partial remission and 5 patients stable), and at the end of trial 1 patient (5%) remained stable and 7 (65%) had progression. Laboratory controls of adrenal androgens did not show any significant change of androstenedione and DHEA-S within 3 months, and there was even an average rise of testosterone from 1 to 2 nmol/l. AG seems to be only of small advantage in secondary treatment of advanced prostatic carcinoma. But it is possible that aromatase inhibitors could be useful in treating BPH because of their influence on peripheral oestrogens.