Question 1

What is the Meaning of Intermittent Androgen Deprivation?

Accepted Answer

Intermittent Androgen Deprivation (IAD) is a cyclical clinical strategy for prostate cancer management. It alternates active androgen suppression with planned treatment breaks, allowing temporary recovery of endogenous androgen production. Its primary objective is to mitigate therapy-related side effects while maintaining disease control, aiming for improved patient quality of life.

Question 2

What is the Context of Intermittent Androgen Deprivation?

Accepted Answer

This therapeutic modality applies within prostate cancer management, a condition often dependent on androgen hormones for growth. The prostate gland is highly sensitive to androgens. Androgen deprivation, by reducing systemic testosterone, inhibits proliferation of androgen-sensitive prostate cancer cells, making IAD a strategic endocrine intervention.

Question 3

What is the Significance of Intermittent Androgen Deprivation?

Accepted Answer

The practical importance of IAD lies in its potential to alleviate chronic side effects from continuous androgen deprivation therapy, including fatigue, hot flashes, and bone density loss. Planned treatment holidays improve a patient's overall well-being and functional status. This patient-centered approach balances disease management with enhanced quality of life.

Question 4

What is the Mechanism of Intermittent Androgen Deprivation?

Accepted Answer

Androgen deprivation, whether continuous or intermittent, suppresses androgen production or blocks androgen receptor action within prostate cancer cells. This reduction in androgenic stimulation decreases cellular proliferation. During IAD's off-treatment periods, androgen levels recover, hypothesized to resensitize residual cancer cells to subsequent ADT rounds or provide physiological respite.

Question 5

What is the Application of Intermittent Androgen Deprivation?

Accepted Answer

In clinical practice, IAD protocols typically initiate ADT until the patient's Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) level reaches a predetermined low threshold. Androgen-depriving agents are then temporarily discontinued. Treatment reinitiates when the PSA level rises to a predefined upper threshold, indicating biochemical recurrence. This cyclical administration is tailored to individual patient responses.

Question 6

What is the Metric of Intermittent Androgen Deprivation?

Accepted Answer

The efficacy and management of Intermittent Androgen Deprivation are primarily monitored through serial measurements of serum Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels, a crucial biomarker guiding treatment cycling. Serum testosterone levels are also assessed to confirm adequate androgen suppression during on-treatment phases and demonstrate recovery during off-treatment intervals. Clinical symptom assessment aids patient evaluation.

Question 7

What is the Risk of Intermittent Androgen Deprivation?

Accepted Answer

Potential risks associated with Intermittent Androgen Deprivation include the possibility of disease progression during off-treatment intervals if not meticulously monitored. Patients may still experience androgen deprivation symptoms during on-treatment phases, and recovery of certain side effects, like sexual function, can be variable. Long-term impacts on bone health and metabolic parameters necessitate ongoing vigilance.

Intermittent Androgen Deprivation

Meaning

Context

Significance

Mechanism

Application

Metric

Risk

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