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Anti-Androgen Withdrawal Syndrome

Meaning

Anti-Androgen Withdrawal Syndrome describes a transient clinical phenomenon where tumor growth slows or regresses following the cessation of anti-androgen therapy, which was previously used to treat hormone-sensitive cancers. This paradoxical improvement in the disease state occurs despite the expected increase in circulating androgen levels after stopping the medication. The syndrome highlights the complex and sometimes unpredictable nature of hormonal signaling pathways in cancer cells. Clinicians recognize this response as a potential temporary strategy when a patient’s cancer progresses while on anti-androgen agents.