1. < Prostate Cancer

Does ADT actually kill cancer cells?

Posted by ddl @ddl, Jul 2 8:02pm

It seems like a simple question, but finding a definitive answer is not so easy. My MO says yes - the combination of Orgovyx and Abiraterone does kill cancer and he wants me on it for two years (3 months leading up to radiation, 2 months during radiation, and 19 months post radiation) but almost everything I read says the ADT weakens cancer and causes it to in essence hibernate, but doesn’t kill it. I’m wondering if any of you guys know the answer to this?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

robertmizek | @robertmizek | Jul 24 9:48pm
In reply to @russ777 "That's very encouraging!" + (show)
@russ777

That's very encouraging!

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Tell me about it! My oncologist wants me on it for 2 years and I’ve got 21 months to go!

Good luck on your journey!

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gbvetracer | @gbvetracer | Aug 7 6:13am
In reply to @web265 "The way my RO described it was like this. The ADT denies the cancer cells the..." + (show)
@web265

The way my RO described it was like this.

The ADT denies the cancer cells the food they need to survive, testosterone, thereby weakening them and preventing them from multiplying

The radiation damages the cancer cells by changing their DNA so that they can't replicate and die off.

This may have been an oversimplification for the purpose of explaining it to an idiot such as myself.....LOL

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Actually, no testosterone has nothing to do with PC. Androgen Deprivation Therapy (adt) is what lowers psa and maybe kills PC. My T levels rose to 1000, while doing adt and psa drops. Androgen is not the same as Testosterone.

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2 replies
northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Aug 7 8:29am
In reply to @gbvetracer "Actually, no testosterone has nothing to do with PC. Androgen Deprivation Therapy (adt) is what lowers..." + (show)
@gbvetracer

Actually, no testosterone has nothing to do with PC. Androgen Deprivation Therapy (adt) is what lowers psa and maybe kills PC. My T levels rose to 1000, while doing adt and psa drops. Androgen is not the same as Testosterone.

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Testosterone is the main androgen.

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gbvetracer | @gbvetracer | Aug 7 9:17am

I’ve done the research and have my own blood work to verify it; testosterone is not androgen and doesn’t feed the pc. As the androgen decreases the testosterone increases and psa drops.

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5 replies
northoftheborder | @northoftheborder | Aug 7 9:47am
In reply to @gbvetracer "I’ve done the research and have my own blood work to verify it; testosterone is not..." + (show)
@gbvetracer

I’ve done the research and have my own blood work to verify it; testosterone is not androgen and doesn’t feed the pc. As the androgen decreases the testosterone increases and psa drops.

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(Following up privately)

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retireddoc | @retireddoc | Aug 8 6:44am
In reply to @gbvetracer "I’ve done the research and have my own blood work to verify it; testosterone is not..." + (show)
@gbvetracer

I’ve done the research and have my own blood work to verify it; testosterone is not androgen and doesn’t feed the pc. As the androgen decreases the testosterone increases and psa drops.

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You are incorrect. Testosterone is the major androgen for men. The function of ADT (literally Androgen Deprivation Therapy) is to lower the Testosterone to castrate levels. It is unequivocal that testosterone fuels the growth of prostate cancer.

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 8 11:30am
In reply to @gbvetracer "I’ve done the research and have my own blood work to verify it; testosterone is not..." + (show)
@gbvetracer

I’ve done the research and have my own blood work to verify it; testosterone is not androgen and doesn’t feed the pc. As the androgen decreases the testosterone increases and psa drops.

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Hormone therapy or androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) uses medicines to reduce testosterone levels and treat prostate cancer.

From Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/hormone-therapy-for-prostate-cancer/about/pac-20384737
"Hormone therapy for prostate cancer is a treatment that stops the hormone testosterone either from being made or from reaching prostate cancer cells.

Most prostate cancer cells rely on testosterone to grow. Hormone therapy causes prostate cancer cells to die or to grow more slowly.

Hormone therapy for prostate cancer may involve medicines or possibly surgery to remove the testicles."

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dandl48 Dave | @dandl48 | Aug 8 12:39pm
In reply to @gbvetracer "I’ve done the research and have my own blood work to verify it; testosterone is not..." + (show)
@gbvetracer

I’ve done the research and have my own blood work to verify it; testosterone is not androgen and doesn’t feed the pc. As the androgen decreases the testosterone increases and psa drops.

Jump to this post

Sorry @gbvetracer , Testosterone is indeed an androgen. Androgens, including testosterone, can influence the growth of prostate cancer. In fact, prostate cancer cells often rely on androgens to grow and spread. This is why treatments for prostate cancer sometimes involve reducing androgen levels or blocking their effects to slow the cancer’s progression.

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1 reply
gbvetracer | @gbvetracer | Aug 8 12:57pm
In reply to @dandl48 "Sorry @gbvetracer , Testosterone is indeed an androgen. Androgens, including testosterone, can influence the growth of..." + (show)
@dandl48

Sorry @gbvetracer , Testosterone is indeed an androgen. Androgens, including testosterone, can influence the growth of prostate cancer. In fact, prostate cancer cells often rely on androgens to grow and spread. This is why treatments for prostate cancer sometimes involve reducing androgen levels or blocking their effects to slow the cancer’s progression.

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My T levels always Rise considerably when taking Casodex. (over 1000) but PSA drops usually in half. So how would you explain this?

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