Neoadjuvant flutamide monotherapy for locally confined prostate cancer

Background: We compared the clinical effects and impact on quality of life (QOL) of patients who received a 3‐month course of flutamide monotherapy before radical prostatectomy with those who received a 3‐month course of luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist monotherapy. Methods: Thirty‐seven patients with non‐metastatic prostate cancer were enrolled in this study (19, flutamide; 18, LHRH agonist). The rates of change of serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) and testosterone levels, downsizing of prostate volume, the rate of organ confined disease, adverse effects and perioperative scores measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Prostate Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC‐P) and the Sapporo Medical University Sexual Function Questionnaire (SMUF) were analyzed. Results: At radical prostatectomy, pathological variables were not significantly different in the two groups. Serum testosterone level was significantly higher (mean 359.2 compared to 10.5, P