Paper
Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases (2005) 8, 75–83. doi:10.1038/sj.pcan.4500782 Published online 1 February 2005
Prevention and management of bicalutamide-induced gynecomastia and breast pain: randomized endocrinologic and clinical studies with tamoxifen and anastrozole
'Arimidex', 'Casodex', and 'Nolvadex' are trademarks of the AstraZeneca group of companies.
D Saltzstein1, P Sieber2, T Morris3 and J Gallo4
- 1Urology San Antonio Research PA, Pasteur Medical Plaza, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- 2Urological Associates of Lancaster, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
- 3AstraZeneca, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK
- 4AstraZeneca, Wilmington, Deleware, USA
Correspondence: D Saltzstein, Urology San Antonio Research PA, Pasteur Medical Plaza, 7909 Fredericksburg Drive, Suite 115, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. E-mail: dsaltzstei@aol.com
Received 23 July 2004; Revised 1 November 2004; Accepted 8 December 2004; Published online 1 February 2005.
Abstract
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial involving 107 men receiving bicalutamide ('Casodex') 150 mg/day therapy following radical therapy for prostate cancer assessed tamoxifen ('Nolvadex') 20 mg/day and anastrozole ('Arimidex') 1 mg/day for the prophylaxis and treatment of gynecomastia/breast pain. Tamoxifen, but not anastrozole, significantly reduced the incidence of gynecomastia/breast pain when used prophylactically and therapeutically. Serum testosterone levels increased with tamoxifen relative to placebo but prostate-specific antigen levels declined in all treatment groups. Further studies are needed to define the optimum tamoxifen dose and to assess any impact on cancer control. The use of tamoxifen in this setting remains to be investigated.
Keywords:
tamoxifen, anastrozole, bicalutamide, gynecomastia, breast pain
