BACKGROUND: The meta-analysis of maximal androgen blockade (MAB) concluded that there is no survival advantage of MAB over castration alone. However, the results from the largest trials yield conflicting results. METHODS: The design and results of three trials were examined. RESULTS: Most studies were planned to detect an over-optimistic difference in survival and immature data were published. The survival curves show that statistical assumptions are not fulfilled. Excluding from the meta-analysis all trials where a negative impact of disease flare on survival could not be excluded resulted in no difference in survival between MAB and castration. CONCLUSIONS: Trials of MAB should be planned to detect differences of no more than 5-10% in median survival. The analyses should only be carried out on mature data and should take into account the possibility of a negative impact on survival due to disease flare if no anti-androgen has been given initially with an LH-RH agonist. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
BACKGROUND: The meta-analysis of maximal androgen blockade (MAB) concluded that there is no survival advantage of MAB over castration alone. However, the results from the largest trials yield conflicting results. METHODS: The design and results of three trials were examined. RESULTS: Most studies were planned to detect an over-optimistic difference in survival and immature data were published. The survival curves show that statistical assumptions are not fulfilled. Excluding from the meta-analysis all trials where a negative impact of disease flare on survival could not be excluded resulted in no difference in survival between MAB and castration. CONCLUSIONS: Trials of MAB should be planned to detect differences of no more than 5-10% in median survival. The analyses should only be carried out on mature data and should take into account the possibility of a negative impact on survival due to disease flare if no anti-androgen has been given initially with an LH-RH agonist. Copyright 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Authors: Vincenzo Pagliarulo; Sergio Bracarda; Mario A Eisenberger; Nicolas Mottet; Fritz H Schröder; Cora N Sternberg; Urs E Studer Journal: Eur Urol Date: 2011-08-19 Impact factor: 20.096
Authors: Ashraf J Abusamra; Shouki Bazarbashi; Yasser Bahader; Hussain Kushi; Danny Rabah; Dany Rabbah; Naser Al Bogami; Khalid Al Ghamdi; Abdullah Al Ghamdi; Khaled Balaraj; Raouf Seyam; Mohammed Al Otaibi; Eyad Al Saeed Journal: Urol Ann Date: 2011-03