The effects of aminoglutethimide and hydrocortisone, alone and combined, on androgen levels in post-orchiectomy prostatic cancer patients.

Aminoglutethimide has been used in combination with hydrocortisone in patients with advanced prostatic cancer with the rationale that it causes a 'medical adrenalectomy'. Both objective and subjective responses have been recorded. We have examined the effect of AG and HC alone and in combination on plasma androgen levels throughout the day in two studies on 11 such patients. Whilst AG combined with HC led to a significant suppression of both testosterone and androstenedione levels, the suppression with HC alone was significantly greater, indicating that any beneficial clinical effects of AG in these patients is not due to its suppression of adrenal androgen secretion.