An
improved method and products for the primary hormonal treatment of early stage, low and intermediate risk
prostate cancers by prostatic implants of
androgen suppressive drugs formulated as fused with a lipoid carrier or encapsulated in microcapsules or in
Silastic capsules is provided. Such prostatic implants renders a constant slow-release of their contents to the
prostate for extended periods by
biodegradation and
diffusion. It facilitates higher prostatic and lower systemic concentrations of
androgen suppressive hormones. Because of their high prostatic and lower systemic concentrations,
tumor control is much improved and the their
systemic toxicity is minimized.
Tumor control after such primary hormonal
implant treatment is followed by clinical examinations and the biochemical
tumor control is followed by periodic estimations of serum levels of PSA and
acid phosphatase. More complex and expensive
surgery or
radiation therapy for this group of good prognostic early stage
prostate cancer is reserved for those patients failing to this primary hormonal treatment. It will preserve
potency more than by
surgery or
radiation therapy. Furthermore, it would reduce the
cost of treatment for early stage
prostate cancer significantly.
Androgen suppressive hormonal implants to the prostate before, during or after lower
dose conventional
radiation therapy would also facilitate equal or better cure rates of localized
prostate cancer as compared to the more complex and toxic higher
dose radiation therapy.