Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41518446›Full record

ArticleInternational urology and nephrology2026

Long-term trends in androgen-directed therapy in advanced prostate cancer: a 29-year national analysis.

Kieran Sandhu, Cynthia Wells, Matilda M H Newton, Declan G Murphy, Nathan Lawrentschuk, Marlon L Perera

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Article in International urology and nephrology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Kieran SandhuDivision of Cancer Services, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Australia. kieran.s11@outlook.com.
Cynthia WellsDepartment of Urology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
Matilda M H NewtonDepartment of Pharmacy, Canberra Hospital, Garran, Australia.
Declan G MurphyDivision of Cancer Services, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Australia.
Nathan LawrentschukDivision of Cancer Services, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Australia.
Marlon L PereraDivision of Cancer Services, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAndrogen deprivation therapy (ADT) has been pivotal in advanced prostate cancer (PCa) for decades. The introduction of androgen-receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) has transformed treatment paradigms. However, their real-world adoption over time has not been comprehensively characterised. We examined prescribing trends for androgen-directed therapies in Australia over a 29-year period.

methodsA retrospective population-based analysis of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) dispensing data (1996-2024) was performed. PBS-listed anti-androgen therapies-luteinising hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists (goserelin, leuprorelin, triptorelin), combined androgen blockage (CAB) (LHRH + bicalutamide), ARPIs (enzalutamide, apalutamide, darolutamide, abiraterone)-were included. Annual prescription counts were standardised per 100,000 men. Outcomes included temporal trends, proportional contribution of each drug class, and the effect of ARPI introduction using interrupted time-series (ITS) analysis.

resultsAnti-androgen prescriptions rose from 146 to 228,707 between 1996 and 2024, respectively. LHRH monotherapy accounted for > 94% of prescriptions prior to ARPI approval, declining to 51.61% in 2024 despite continued absolute growth (+ 65.16 prescriptions/100,000/year, p < 0.0001). ARPIs expanded following PBS listing, increasing from 2.44% in 2013 to 47.28% in 2024 (+ 131.9 prescriptions/100,000/year, p < 0.0001). ITS modelling demonstrated a significant immediate level increase of + 9.85 percentage points (p < 0.0001) and sustained a post-intervention slope increase of + 3.04 percentage points per year (p < 0.0001) following ARPI introduction, closely mirroring observed proportional and absolute growth 3.44-47.28% between 2013 and 2024, respectively.

conclusionAustralia has transitioned from predominately LHRH-based therapy to widespread use of ARPIs. Health-system structures enabling timely clinical access appears pivotal to the rapid and equitable diffusion of high-value androgen-targeted therapies.

Indexed as

Androgen AntagonistsAntineoplastic Agents, HormonalProstatic NeoplasmsAgedAnilidesAustraliaBenzamidesGonadotropin-Releasing HormoneGoserelinHumansLeuprolideMaleNitrilesPhenylthiohydantoinRetrospective StudiesThiohydantoinsAndrogen AntagonistsAnilidesAntineoplastic Agents, HormonalapalutamideBenzamidesbicalutamideenzalutamideGonadotropin-Releasing HormoneGoserelinLeuprolideNitrilesPhenylthiohydantoinThiohydantoinsTosyl CompoundsTriptorelin PamoateAndrogen receptor pathway inhibitorsBicalutamideLHRH agonistsNovel therapeuticsProstate cancer

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.