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Total androgen blockade
Since the adrenal glands also produce small amounts of androgens, including testosterone, some doctors use antiandrogens in combination with surgical or medical castration to block the possible effect of adrenal androgens on prostate cells. The combination of an antiandrogen (to block the effect of adrenal androgens) and surgical castration, an LH-RH analog, or a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (to halt production of testicular androgens) is referred to as total androgen blockade or total androgen suppression. Despite promising preliminary findings, numerous studies have failed to demonstrate that total androgen blockade prolongs life more than simply halting the production of testicular androgens alone.
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