ObjectiveTo investigate the finasteride application during the off-cycle of intermittent androgen blockade (IAB) in patients with advanced prostate cancer treated with IAB.MethodsEighty-seven patients with advanced prostate cancer were divided into two groups: forty-nine patients received IAB (group A), and thirty-eight patients underwent IAB and finasteride during the off-cycle of IAB (group B). The time of treatment cycle and the time to disease progression were compared between the two groups. ResultsThe patients in group A completed 89 treatment cycles and the mean cycle length was (12.8±5.4) months [treatment time and non-treatment time were (6.6±3.5) months and (7.1±4.8) months, respectively]. The patients in group B completed 85 cycles and the mean cycle length was (15.3±5.9) months [treatment time and non-treatment time were (6.9±3.2) months and (9.2v±3.9) months, respectively]. There was a significant difference between group A and B in the mean cycle length and the non-treatment time (P=0.0428,P=0.03).The 3-year progression rate was ( 34.8±3.5 )% in group A and ( 28.4±2.7)% in groups B ( P=0.035). ConclusionsThe application of finasteride during the off-cycle of IAB in patients with advanced prostate cancer treated with intermittent androgen blockade (IAB) can delay progression of advanced prostate cancer.

Objective To investigate the quality of life in man after treatment of advanced prostate cancer by surgical castration. Methods A total of 69 patients with advanced prostate cancer treated by sur-gical castration completed the European organization for research and treatment of cancer quality of life questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and QLQ-prostate specific 25-item (PR25) module third at a 12-month interval.The assessment points were preoporative,6 months postoperative and 12 months postoperative. Results Although there were improvement on pain relief (P ＜ 0.01 ) and symptom of urinary (P ＜ 0.01 ) and global health (P ＜ 0.01 ), the physical functioning (P ＜ 0.05 ), role functioning (P ＜ 0.01 ), emotional functioning (P ＜ 0.01 ), cognitive functioning (P ＜ 0.05 ), social functioning (P ＜ 0.05 or ＜ 0.01 ) were found significantly reduced , and insomnia (P ＜ 0.05) and fatigue (P ＜ 0.01 ) aggravated, treatment related symptoms (P ＜0.01 )appeared predominantly, especially deprivation of sexual functioning. Conclusion The surgical cas-tration when treating advanced prostate cancer did appear to impair the physical and psychological of patients, especially the sexual functioning.