Maximal androgen blockade in metastatic prostatic carcinoma

: In Norway the standard treatment for metastatic prostatic cancer has been surgical or medical castration. Only recently have antiandrogens been approved for treatment of advanced cancer of the prostate. The authors examine the principles for total or maximal androgen blockade and discuss American and European studies that indicate an improvement in survival as a result of maximal androgen blockade therapy in patients with low volume disease and good performance. Though not yet statistically proven in prospective trials, it is recommended that such patients should be given maximal androgen blockade therapy, also in Norway.