VACURG studies of conservative treatment.

The results of these three studies clearly indicate that prostatic cancer is hormonally responsive, and many patients have experienced distinct benefit from estrogens or orchiectomy, especially with regard to relief of symptoms. The complexity of some of the reports of VACURG studies has led some to believe that this group was opposed to estrogens, but that is not true. However, the VACURG has shown that if estrogens are used in too high a dose and for the wrong patients, it is likely that an unnecessary number of cardiovascular deaths will result. The risk factors we have identified for estrogen induced cardiovascular complications may provide some guidance in deciding which patients to treat and may be helpful in sharpening questions to be asked in future clinical trials.