Study Answers Some Questions About Androgen Suppression Pre-Radiation, But Not All

The RTOG 9910 trial, involving 1,489 men with intermediate-risk prostate cancer, found no additional benefit in extending androgen suppression from 8 to 28 weeks before radiotherapy, with similar 10-year survival outcomes. The study suggested that longer androgen suppression might not be necessary, although it used lower radiation doses than current standards. It did not determine if some men could avoid androgen suppression entirely, highlighting the need for further research, such as the RTOG 0815 trial, to assess the necessity and duration of androgen suppression. The document noted that radiation doses had increased since the trial, and previous studies showed survival benefits with shorter ADT durations, shifting the focus to whether ADT should be used at all due to its adverse effects.