Cyproterone Acetate in Treating Hot Flashes Following Surgical or Chemical Castration for Prostate Cancer

You may be eligible if

• DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
• Prostate cancer patients who have undergone bilateral orchiectomy or medical castration (LHRH agonist drugs) and are experiencing hot flashes
• Hot flashes are defined as:
• * At least 3 to 4 moderate to severe hot flashes per day or 21 per week at baseline
• * Present at least 1 month prior to study
• PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
• Age:
• 18 and over
• Performance status:
• ECOG 0-1
• Life expectancy:
• Greater than 12 months
• Hematopoietic:
• WBC at least 3,000/uL
• Platelet count at least 75,000/uL
• Hemoglobin at least 6.2 mmol/L
• Hepatic:
• Bilirubin no greater than 1.8 mg/dL
• SGPT no greater than 96 u/L
• SGOT no greater than 90 u/L
• LDH no greater than 600
• Renal:
• BUN no greater than 42 mg/dL
• Creatinine no greater than 3.39 mg/dL
• Cardiovascular:
• No cardiovascular risks (e.g., history of angina pectoris) unless controlled by medical or surgical therapy
• No known history of thromboembolic disease
• Other:
• Comprehend and understand English language
• No other prior malignancy within the past 5 years except treated squamous or basal cell skin cancer or superficial bladder carcinoma
• PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
• Biologic therapy:
• Not specified
• Chemotherapy:
• At least a 4 week washout period is required if prior antineoplastic or cytotoxic chemotherapy has been used
• Endocrine therapy:
• At least a 4 week washout period is required if prior estrogens, antiandrogens (e.g., flutamide or bicalutamide), progestational agents, or corticosteroids have been used
• No concurrent herbal medications with known hormonal ingredients (i.e., phytoestrogens)
• Radiotherapy:
• Not specified
• Surgery:
• See Disease Characteristics
• Other:
• At least a 4 week washout period is required if prior clonidine or monoamine oxidase inhibitors have been used