OBJECTIVES: I. Compare the efficacy of 4 months vs 8 months of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist therapy combined with antiandrogen therapy prior to radiotherapy, in terms of disease-free survival and overall survival, in patients with stage I-IV localized invasive prostate cancer.
OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are randomized to one of two treatment arms. All patients receive triptorelin IM once a month and oral flutamide three times daily with meals. Patients randomized to arm I receive this therapy regimen for 4 months. Patients randomized to arm II receive this therapy regimen for 8 months. All patients then undergo radiotherapy 5 days a week for 7 weeks within 2 months of the last injection of triptorelin and within 1 month of the last oral flutamide tablet. Patients are followed every 3 months after radiotherapy.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 276 patients (138 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study.
