Current Pharmacological Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer ABSTRACT
Transcription
Current Pharmacological Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer ABSTRACT
Current Pharmacological Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer Kirsten D. Fanning, PharmD, CGP, and Kimberly Braxton Lloyd, PharmD ABSTRACT Prostate cancer is the most prevalent male cancer and is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Advances in screening through digital rectal examinations and prostatespecific antigen have led to earlier diagnosis and, presumably, to more effective management. This article reviews the current pharmacological treatment options in the management of prostate cancer. INTRODUCTION According to American Cancer Society statistics in 2002, prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer in men, with an estimated 189,000 new cases identified each year. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, following lung cancer.1 Relative survival after a diagnosis of prostate cancer has improved over the years, and currently the estimated 10-year survival rate is 75%. The earlier the cancer is detected, the more favorable the survival rate; the 5-year survival rate in patients whose prostate cancer is discovered early, while it is still in the local and regional state, is 100%.1 SCREENING Kirsten Fanning, PharmD, CGP Regular screening with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test and the digital rectal examination (DRE) can result in early detection and treatment. Normal PSA levels range from 0 to 4 ng/ml. The use of PSA as a screening test is highly controversial because of the relatively high prevalence of prostate cancer at autopsy compared to the relatively low mortality rate from the disease. PSA values can be elevated not only due to prostate carcinoma but also by benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), prostatitis, recent ejaculation, or recent biopsy.2 Despite the possibility of false-positive results, both the American Cancer Society and the American Urological Society recommend that the PSA, along with a DRE, be offered annually to men ages 50 and older with a life expectancy of at least another 10 years. These screenings are recommended earlier in men of AfricanAmerican descent, who have a 50% higher risk of developing the disease, and in individuals with a family history of the disorder.1 The probability of prostate cancer also increases with age, from one in 48 for men ages 40 to 59 to one in eight for men ages 60 to 79.1 Dr. Fanning is Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, and a Geriatric Clinical Pharmacist at East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika, Alabama. Dr. Braxton Lloyd is Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice, Harrison School of Pharmacy at Auburn University, and Director of the Pharmaceutical Care Center at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. 500 P&T® • October 2002 • Vol. 27 No. 10 Early signs and symptoms can also serve as an indicator to recommend screening, but localized disease is commonly asymptomatic.1 Symptoms may include weak or interrupted urine flow, inability to urinate, difficulty controlling urine flow, urinary frequency, nocturia, hematuria, and dysuria. STAGING Most diagnoses of prostate cancer are made following an abnormal PSA result and transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). The pathological stage can be assessed after the surgical removal and examination of the prostate gland, seminal vesicles, and local lymph nodes. The tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging classification system includes categories for prostate cancer with no palpable abnormality (T1), palpable tumor but confined to the prostate gland (T2), and cancer that has extended outside the gland (T3 and T4). Nodal (N) involvement and distant metastases (M) are also incorporated into the staging system.3,4 Other systems for staging have also been developed combining information from the DRE, biopsy, a PSA test, TRUS, and a Gleason score (histological grade).3–5 Staging and treatKimberly Braxton ment of localized disease are also disLloyd, PharmD cussed by Roth.5 These systems are used to direct treatment and to assess the probability of cure. TREATMENT Prostate cancer treatment is dependent on patient age, staging, and comorbid conditions. The American Cancer Society and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) have developed guidelines for the treatment of prostate cancer based on risk for recurrence and expected survival.6 In the earliest stages of clinically localized prostate cancer (T1-2, N0, M0) or in patients with a life expectancy of less than 10 years from the time of diagnosis, conservative management or “watchful waiting” without active treatment, localized therapy, or combined systemic and local therapy might be appropriate. Surgery and Radiotherapy For patients with disease confined to the prostate gland, the most common treatment option is surgery along with a radical perineal prostatectomy or prostatoseminovesiculectomy, including removal of all prostatic tissue. In a recent randomized trial conducted by the Scandinavian Prostatic Cancer Group, men with localized prostate cancer who underwent a radical prostectomy, compared with watchful waiting, experienced a reduction in prostate cancer–specific mortality (4.6% versus 8.9%, P = .02) and a decrease in frequency of distant metastases (10.1% versus 15.5%, P = .03). No difference was found between the groups in overall mortality.7 In addition, men who underwent Current Pharmacological Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer surgery had a higher incidence of erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence; however, nerve-sparing surgery was not routinely performed in this trial.8 The external validity of this trial is unclear because the study population primarily included men who had palpable disease, with a diagnosis established in only 10% of cases as a result of elevated PSA levels. External beam radiotherapy is another option for men with localized disease and can be an alternative to surgery in men with a comorbid condition, such as cardiovascular disease. For men with small tumors confined to the prostate gland (stage T1 or T2), brachytherapy, the interstitial implantation of radioactive seeds directly into prostatic tissue is a one-time treatment alternative to external beam radiotherapy. Complications of surgery, radiation, and brachytherapy can include urinary incontinence, impotence, and rectal bleeding, all of which may limit the usefulness of these treatments. Newer irradiation techniques and nerve-sparing surgical techniques can decrease the incidence of treatment-related adverse effects. Postoperatively, erectile dysfunction can be treated with sildenafil citrate (Viagra®, Pfizer), the intraoperative use of cavernous nerve stimulation, and grafting of peripheral nerves to restore innervation of the corpora cavernosa.9 Hormone Therapy Prostate cancer cell growth is hormone-dependent and can become hormone-independent later in the course of the disease.1 In metastatic disease, bilateral orchiectomy (surgical removal of the testes) is the preferred method of treatment because of the complete blockade of androgens; however, as a result of the psychological trauma associated with this method, many patients consider this procedure unacceptable. Hormonal therapy can decrease androgen production and is considered when initial curative therapy with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy has failed or when the cancer is advanced. Hormonal therapy is not curative but can provide prolonged remission by shrinking tumor size and by decreasing symptoms such as pain and incontinence. Pharmacological treatment options consist of agents that lower serum testosterone levels and agents that interfere locally with the binding of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone to the androgen receptor (Figure 1). Luteinizing Hormone–Releasing Hormone Analogues Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogues, or LHRH agonists, include goserelin acetate and leuprolide acetate. These agents bring about a biphasic response by initially causing elevations of luteinizing hormone (LH) and folliclestimulating hormone (FSH), followed by down-regulation of the release of gonadotropic hormone–releasing hormone (GnRH) in the hypothalamus and gonadotropins in the anterior pituitary gland. This down-regulation reduces androgen synthesis in the testes, causing a chemical castration. The initial rise in testosterone may result in a clinical flare of the disease with a transient increase in tumor growth and an increase in other symptoms, such as urinary obstruction and bone pain in men with metastatic disease. Goserelin (Zoladex®, AstraZeneca) is available as a monthly and as a 3-month implant that is administered subcutaneously. A clinical trial of 401 patients with localized advanced prostate cancer compared irradiation alone versus goserelin plus irradiation. The results showed a five-year survival rate of 79% in the combined treatment group and 62% in the irradiation-only group (95% confidence interval [CI]: 72–86 and 52–72, P = .001).10 Leuprolide acetate is available as an injectable suspension (Eligard®, Atrix Laboratories), given subcutaneously monthly or every 3 three months; as a long-acting depot formulation (Lupron Depot®, TAP Holdings), given intramuscularly, also monthly or every three months; or as a subcutaneous implant (Viadur®, Alza Corporation), given every 12 months. The efficacy of goserelin and leuprolide appears similar, but a large-scale comparative trial has not been conducted. Another LHRH analogue, triptorelin (Trelstar®, Debio Recherche), has a twofold greater potency than leuprolide and was approved for use in prostate cancer in 2000. In a randomized trial, triptorelin suppressed testosterone to castration levels in 91% of patients with advanced prostate cancer during the first month of treatment, with levels maintained through day 253 in 96% of patients.11 The individual selection of an LHRH analogue depends on cost and on the desired administration schedule. Whether any possible differences in morbidity and mortality exist has not yet been established. Timing of hormonal therapy for prostate cancer has been a point of controversy in the literature. Early treatment with hormonal therapy can be expensive and can cause a rise in anxiety as a result of frequent follow-up testing with PSA tests and an increased incidence of adverse effects caused by long-term use. All of the LHRH analogues can cause hot flushes, decreased libido, impotence, gynecomastia, fluid retention, anemia, fatigue, cognitive impairment, and bone demineralization, sequelae that affect a patient’s quality of life. Using hormonal therapy intermittently may decrease some of these acute toxicities. Mounting evidence supports initiating treatment once the disease is locally advanced or once recurrent or metastatic disease is diagnosed.12 In a follow-up phase III trial of the previously mentioned study of patients with locally advanced disease, it was shown that patients randomly assigned to radiation therapy plus three years of adjuvant hormonal therapy with goserelin had a significantly better five-year survival over patients receiving radiation therapy initially plus hormonal therapy only at disease recurrence. The five-year clinical disease-free survival rates were 74% (95% CI: 67–81) in the combined treatment group and 40% (95% CI: 32– 48) in radiation alone.13 Because hormone suppression causes systemic castration, long-term therapy with LHRH analogues can result in a severe decline in bone density. Prevention of osteoporosis in these patients is imperative in order to decrease fracture risk. Bisphosphonates, such as pamidronate (Aredia®, Novartis) and zoledronic acid (Zometa®, Novartis), have been evaluated in protecting the bone mineral density during treatment with LHRH analogues. It has been suggested that bisphosphonates not only might protect bone density but also might have antimetastatic potential.14 Abarelix, an agent similar to an LHRH analogue, is currently under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Abarelix is a modified GnRH antagonist and offers an advantage over LHRH agonists through its direct antagonist action, which avoids the initial flare phenomenon.15 This agent has not yet un- Vol. 27 No. 4 • April 2002 • P&T® 501 Current Pharmacological Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer dergone long-term studies, and clinical data are too limited to assess its role in therapy. It is possible that GnRH antagonists might be an alternative treatment option to LHRH agonists in prostate cancer if their efficacy proves similar and if the reduced adverse effects linked to the testosterone surge can be confirmed. Antiandrogens Because androgens are also produced outside the testes in the adrenal glands, antiandrogens such as bicalutamide (Casodex®, AstraZeneca), flutamide (Eulexin®, Schering-Plough), and nilutamide (Nilandron®, GH Besselaar Associates) are used to block the action of testosterone at the cellular level.16 In contrast to the injectable LHRH analogues, these agents are given orally one to three times per day. Because monotherapy with an antiandrogen can induce a compensatory rise in LH release from the pituitary gland and a subsequent rise in testosterone levels, combination therapy with an LHRH analogue is usually recommended. To provide adequate androgen deprivation, physicians com- monly use the combination therapy of an antiandrogen with an LHRH analogue, orchiectomy, or radiotherapy. This combination may be referred to as “chemical castration,” “maximal androgen deprivation,” or “combined androgen blockade.” The antiandrogens can also be used to block the flare response from the initial rise in testosterone from LHRH analogues. Toxicities differ among the agents, but all include gynecomastia, fatigue, elevation in serum transaminases, and diarrhea (Table 1). Flutamide is more frequently associated with diarrhea and gynecomastia and, rarely, with liver toxicity. Bicalutamide and nilutamide offer an advantage over flutamide because they can be given as a once-daily formulation, whereas flutamide administration is required three times daily. Nilutamide is associated with visual impairment, causing a decrease in adaptation to darkness and interstitial pneumonitis. It is recommended that visual examinations be conducted periodically and that a chest radiograph be obtained before initiation of nilutamide and then repeated periodically. These unique adverse effects have not been reported with bicalutamide. Controversy exists as to whether a combined regimen that in- Table 1 Pharmacological Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer Generic/Brand Name Dosage/Frequency LHRH Analogues Side Effects/Comments All: hot flushes, skeletal pain, impotence, gynecomastia, osteopenia Leuprolide (Lupron Depot®, TAP Holdings) Goserelin (Zoladex®, AstraZeneca) Triptorelin (Trelstar®, Debio Recherche) 7.5 mg IM q mo 22.5 mg IM q 3 mo 30 mg IM q 4 mo 1 mg SQ q.d. Keep vials refrigerated; fractional dose is not equivalent to monthly formulation 3.6 mg SQ q 28 days 10.8 mg SQ q 3 mo Implant system 3.75 mg IM q mo Monitor BP for first 4–8 wk Antiandrogens All: hot flushes, fatigue, increase in liver function tests, gynecomastia Bicalutamide (Casodex®, AstraZeneca) 50 mg PO q.d. Long terminal half-life Flutamide (Eulexin®, Schering-Plough) 250 mg PO q 8 hr Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea Nilutamide (Nilandron , GH Besselaar Associates) 300 mg PO q.d. Long terminal half-life, decreased night vision, rare pulmonary toxicity Megestrol Acetate (Megace®, Bristol-Myers Squibb) 80–160 mg/day Edema, increased appetite, myelosuppression Aminoglutethimide (Cytadren®, Novartis) 125 mg PO q.i.d Sedation, skin rash, weakness Ketoconazole (Nizoral®, Janssen) 600–1200 mg/day GI upset, hepatotoxicity Medroxyprogesterone (Provera®, Pharmacia & Upjohn) 1 g IM 3x/wk x 5 wk, then 1 g IM weekly Gynecomastia, loss of libido, venous thrombosis ® Other Hormonal Agents BP, blood pressure; g, gram; GI, gastrointestinal; IM, intramuscularly; LHRH, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone; PO, by mouth; q.d., every day; q.i.d, four times a day; SQ, subcutaneously. 502 P&T® • October 2002 • Vol. 27 No. 10 Current Pharmacological Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer cludes androgen blockade with LHRH analogues and an antiandrogen is superior to chemical castration without an antiandrogen. Randomized trials have reported both positive and negative results, with the majority showing no difference. The National Cancer Institute sponsored a randomized trial of 603 men with previously untreated metastatic disease. It was found that the combination of leuprolide plus flutamide versus leuprolide plus placebo resulted in a longer progression-free survival (16.5 vs. 13.9 months, P = .039) and a longer median overall survival than treatment with leuprolide plus placebo (35.6 vs. 28.3 months, P = .035).17 Other studies, including a meta-analysis of 27 randomized trials involving maximum androgen blockade using flutamide, nilutamide, or cyproterone acetate, did not show this survival advantage for combined androgen blockade. Cyproterone acetate has progestational properties that may be associated with an excess of nonprostate cancer deaths. When the data from the trials of cyproterone acetate were excluded, the survival difference in the trials with flutamide or nilutamide was 3% (95% CI: 0.4–5.4).18 Direct comparisons between bicalutamide, flutamide, and nilutamide have not been conducted. Antiandrogen withdrawal may also be considered if disease recurs during combination androgen blockade therapy. It is hypothesized that a mutation in the androgen receptor can result in stimulation of tumor growth by antiandrogens acting as an agHypothalamus LHRH LHRH agonists Estrogens/DES Pituitary Gland ACTH FSH LH Adrenal Gland Testes Androgens Testosterone Ketoconazole Aminoglutethimide 5α-reductase inhibitors inhibitor 5αreductase DHT PROSTATE CELL Antiandrogens DHT Receptor Prostate Cell Figure 1. Hormonal therapy for prostate cancer. ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone; DES = diethylstilbestrol; DHT = dihydrotestosterone; FSH = follicle-stimulating hormone; LH = luteinizing hormone; LHRH = luteinizing hormone– releasing hormone. onist instead of an antagonist.19 The decline and rise in PSA levels guide this intermittent treatment, with cycling continuing until androgen-independent cancer develops. A rising PSA level is a possible sign of progression and sometimes indicates cancer recurrence. In patients who have undergone a prostatectomy, the PSA should be undetectable. Investigators do not yet agree on what constitutes an acceptable serum PSA level after radiotherapy and cryotherapy. PSA levels decline slowly after radiation, and it appears that men with very low (e.g., <0.5 ng/ml) or undetectable PSA levels are not likely to demonstrate clinical or biochemical relapse following treatment.20 Other important outcome indicators include control of pain and maintenance of quality of life. Other Hormonal Therapies Progestational agents, such as medroxyprogesterone acetate (Provera®, Pharmacia & Upjohn) and megestrol acetate (Megace, Bristol-Myers Squibb), are not commonly used as first-line treatment options for prostate cancer. Megestrol has limited activity in advanced prostate cancer. In a trial comparing high doses (640 mg/day) and standard doses (160 mg/day) of megestrol, no apparent dose-response could be demonstrated in the palliative response rate.21 The use of megestrol is also limited by its potential for pain flare, thrombosis, hypertension, and hyperglycemia. Although diethylstilbestrol (DES), a semisynthetic estrogen analogue, had been used frequently in the past to decrease testosterone levels, its use is limited because of its significant cardiovascular complications, including edema, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accidents, phlebitis, and pulmonary embolism.22 Similar survival rates and quality-of-life benefits have been demonstrated by LHRH analogues without the excess cardiovascular mortality.23 Aminoglutethimide (Cytadren®, Novartis) is also a rarely used second-line hormonal agent that inhibits the synthesis of androgens, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids. Therapy is usually initiated with 250 mg twice daily and gradually increased to four times a day based on tolerance.14 Given the prevention of synthesis of all adrenally derived steroids, concurrent replacement of glucocorticoids is necessary. High-dose ketoconazole (Nizoral®, Janssen), an antifungal agent (400 mg three times a day), can also produce a rapid chemical castration through inhibition of adrenal steroid synthesis.16 Because kenazole requires an acidic environment for absorption, it is usually given with citrus juices; coadministration with antacids, histamine (H2) antagonists, and proton pump inhibitors should be avoided. Long-term use is limited by hepatotoxicity. Finasteride (Proscar®, Merck), a 5α-reductase inhibitor, can be used symptomatically for the management of BPH. It works by blocking the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. It has been demonstrated to have minimal effects on PSA levels but continues to have a limited role in the treatment of prostate cancer. Clinically, it has been incorporated as part of an intermittent androgen blockade regimen during the “off” period.14 This treatment approach has not been compared with more established regimens, and mortality data are unknown. The role of finasteride in the prevention of prostate cancer is being evaluated in the ongoing Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT), a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, Vol. 27 No. 10 • October 2002 • P&T® 503 Current Pharmacological Treatment Options for Prostate Cancer sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. This trial represents a shift from secondary prevention efforts, such as early detection and treatment of prostate cancer, to primary prevention.24 Chemotherapy Chemotherapy may be considered in patients who have hormone-refractory or androgen-independent prostate cancer; however, no current treatment regimen has been shown to improve survival in a prospective, randomized clinical trial.25 Chemotherapy can be used to delay progression, and it can palliate symptoms of the disease, including pain. Single agents have shown relatively low response rates. One small trial of 25 patients with endocrine-refractory prostate cancer receiving weekly infusions of doxorubicin (Adriamycin®, Pharmacia) showed an overall response rate of 84%.26 The NCCN Practice Guidelines also recognize combinations of ketoconazole and doxorubicin, mitoxantrone and prednisone, and estramustine combined with one of the following: vinblastine, etoposide, paclitaxel, or docetaxel.6 One combination that has been shown to improve pain and quality of life is mitoxantrone with prednisone.27 Mitoxantrone (Novantrone®, Wyeth), an anthracenedione similar to doxorubicin, inhibits topo-isomerase II, the enzyme responsible for DNA helix supercoiling, thus resulting in decreased replication. When mitoxantrone was combined with prednisone in men with metastatic disease, it was fairly well tolerated and effective in achieving a “palliative response,” or a significant reduction in pain when compared to prednisone alone.27 Estramustine (Emcyt®, Pharmacia and Upjohn), a synthetic combination of estrogen and nitrogen mustard, affects microtubule assembly and disassembly and thus prevents cell division. After undergoing extensive first-pass metabolism, it is converted to an estrone analogue that exerts an antigonadotropin effect. Its adverse effects include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, edema, and venous thromboembolism. Estramustine is both an oral and a recent intravenous treatment option in patients whose hormone therapy has failed, and it can also be used in combination with other agents, including taxanes and etoposide.28 Randomized trials are currently under way to evaluate other chemotherapeutic regimens and, it is hoped, to address the question of whether this agent should be used earlier in the course of the disease. Dietary Supplements Dietary supplements, such as saw palmetto, soy, citrus pectin, and PC-SPES, have also been touted for use in the treatment of prostate cancer. PC-SPES is a combination of eight herbs and phytoestrogens, including chrysanthemum, reishi mushroom, licorice, sanchi ginseng, and saw palmetto. Its action is similar to that of DES, and therefore it is contraindicated in patients with a history of thromboembolic or significant cardiovascular disease because of the risk of thromboembolic side effects. The FDA recently warned consumers to stop using PC-SPES because the California Department of Health Services found it to be adulterated with traces of prescription medications, including DES, alprazolam, and warfarin.29 The manufacturer has since voluntarily recalled this product. Saw palmetto is a dietary supplement similar in action to the 5αreductase inhibitor finasteride. It can falsely lower the PSA value, which may rebound to its true level once it has been discontinued. Saw palmetto is not recommended for the treatment of prostate 504 P&T® • October 2002 • Vol. 27 No. 4 cancer.30 As with all dietary supplements, caution must be used until quality standards for formulations are in place. A number of studies have questioned the possibility of preventing prostate cancer. In a study sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, healthy men aged 55 and older are being recruited to test whether selenium and vitamin E can reduce the incidence of prostate cancer.31 This trial is based on evidence that these antioxidants play a role in the prevention of head and neck cancer. Final results are anticipated in 2013. CONCLUSION Until treatment options are clearly identified to significantly affect survival , the treatment of prostate cancer will continue to focus on improving quality of life. Although hormonal therapy is effective in controlling localized disease, the expense and adverse effects limit its use. The treatment options for prostate cancer are quite expensive. Even though the lifetime cost of an antiandrogen or an LHRH analogue is substantially higher than the one-time cost of orchiectomy, some patients might not consider this surgical procedure acceptable. Improvement in the prostatectomy surgical technique, particularly for the retropubic procedure, can protect the neurovascular supply to the corpora cavernosa and therefore preserve potency in most patients younger than age 60 without compromising the completeness of the operation. At this time, the optimal regimen and timing of administration of hormonal agents in the treatment of prostate cancer are still a matter of debate. Trials comparing combined androgen blockade regimens with monotherapy, followed by institution of a combined regimen at the time of recurrence, have not been completed. Treatment remains patient-specific and should be based on the extent of tumor, PSA level, Gleason score, quality of life, and life expectancy. Future agents being studied for the treatment of prostate cancer include angiogenesis inhibitors, signaling inhibitors, vaccines, and oncolytic viruses, all of which offer some promise. REFERENCES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. American Cancer Society. 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Hellerstedt BA, Pienta KJ. The current state of hormonal therapy for prostate cancer. Cancer 2002;52:154–179. 15. Tomera K, Gleason D, Gittelman M, et al. The gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist abarelix depot versus luteinizing hormone–releasing hormone agonists leuprolide or goserelin: Initial results of endocrinological and biochemical efficacies in patients with prostate cancer. J Urol 2001;165:1585–1589. 16. Wilson JD. Androgens. In: Hardman JG, Limbird LE, Molinoff PB, et al, eds. Goodman and Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1996;1441–1457. 17. Crawford ED, Eisenberger MA, McLeod DG, et al. A controlled trial of leuprolide with and without flutamide in prostatic carcinoma. N Engl J Med 1989;321:419–424. 18. Prostate Cancer Trialists’ Collaborative Group. Maximum androgen blockade in advanced prostate cancer: An overview of the randomised trials. Lancet 2000;355:1491–1498. 19. Kelly WK, Scher HI. Prostate-specific antigen decline after antiandrogen withdrawal: The flutamide withdrawal syndrome. J Urol 1993;149:607–609. 20. American Urological Association. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) best practice policy. Oncology 2000;14:267–286. 21. Dawson NA, Conaway M, Halabi S, et al. A randomized study comparing standard versus moderately high dose megestrol acetate for patients with advanced prostate carcinoma. Cancer 2000;88:825–834. 22. Byar DP, Corle DK. Hormone therapy for prostate cancer: Results of the Veterans Administration Cooperative Urological Research Group studies. NCI Monogr 1988;7:165–170. 23. Potosky AL, Knopf K, Clegg LX, et al. Quality-of-life outcomes after primary androgen deprivation therapy: Results from the prostate cancer outcomes study. J Clin Oncol 2001;19:3750–3757. 24. Moinpour CM, Lovato LC, Thompson IM, et al. Profile of men randomized to the prostate cancer prevention trial: Baseline healthrelated quality of life, urinary and sexual functioning, and health behaviors. J Clin Oncol 2000;18:1942–1953. 25. Culine S, Droz JP. Chemotherapy in advanced androgen-independent prostate cancer 1990–1999: A decade of progress? Ann Oncol 2000;11:1523–1530. 26. Torti FM, Aston D, Lum BL, et al. Weekly doxorubicin in endocrine-refractory carcinoma of the prostate. J Clin Oncol 1983;1:477–482. 27. Moore MJ, Osoba D, Murphy K, et al. Use of palliative end points to evaluate the effects of mitoxantrone and low-dose prednisone in patients with hormonally resistant prostate cancer. J Clin Oncol 1994;12:689–694. 28. Hudes G. Estramustine-based chemotherapy. Semin Urol Oncol 1997;15:13–19. 29. MedWatch 2002 Safety Information. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2002/safety02.htm. Accessed July 11, 2002. 30. Chavez ML, Chavez PI. Saw palmetto. Hosp Pharm 1998;33:1335–1361. 31. Klein EA, Thompson IM, Lippman SM, et al. SELECT: The next prostate cancer prevention trial. Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial. J Urol 2001;166:1311–1315. 1) Publication Title: P&T: A Peer-Reviewed Journal for Managed Care and Hospital Formulary Management; 2) Publication Number: 1052-1372; 3) Filing Date: October 1, 2002; 4) Issue Frequency: Monthly; 5) Number of Issues Published Annually: 12; 6) Annual Subscription Price: $75.00; 7) Address of Known Office of Publication: 780 Township Line Road,Yardley, Pennsylvania 19067; 8) Address of Headquarters or General Business Office of Publisher: 780 Township Line Road,Yardley, Pennsylvania 19067; 9) Publisher: Timothy P. Search, R.Ph., MediMedia USA, 780 Township Line Road,Yardley, Pennsylvania 19067; Editor: Sonja Sherritze, MediMedia USA, 780 Township Line Road,Yardley, Pennsylvania 19067; Associate Editor: Carol Robins, MediMedia USA, 780 Township Line Road,Yardley, Pennsylvania 19067; 10) Owner: MediMedia USA, Inc., 295 North Street; Teterboro, New Jersey 07608; 11) Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owing or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages, or Other Securities: None; 12) Tax Status: Not applicable; 13) Publication Name: P&T: A Peer-Reviewed Journal for Managed Care and Hospital Formulary Management; 14) Issue date for circulation data below: September 2002; 15) Circulation: Average No. Copies No. Copies Of Single Each Issue Issue Published During Preceding Nearest to 12 Months Filing Date Extent and Nature Of Circulation a. Total no. of copies (net press run) b. Paid and/or requested circulation 1. Paid/requested outside-county mail subscriptions 2. Paid in-county subscriptions 3. Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other non-USPS paid distribution 4. Other classes mailed through the USPS c. Total paid and/or requested circulation d. Free distribution by mail 1. Outside-county 2. In-county 3. Other classes mailed through the USPS e. Free distribution outside the mail f. Total free distribution g. Total distribution h. Copies not distributed I. Total j. Percent paid and/ or requested circulation 56,502 56,382 44,813 45,152 none none none none none none 44,813 45,152 10,455 none none 10,133 none none 92 none 10,547 55,360 1,142 56,502 80.9% 10,133 55,285 1,097 56,382 81.7% I certify that all the above information is true and complete. Timothy P. Search, R.Ph. Publisher Vol. 27 No. 10 • October 2002 • P&T® 505