Relationship between changes in prostate cancer cell proliferation, apoptotic index, and expression of apoptosis-related proteins by neoadjuvant hormonal therapy and duration of such treatment

NHT suppresses prostate cancer cell proliferation for 3 to 12 months. Although the AI was increased during 3 to 7 months of NHT, no significant difference was found between the pre-NHT levels and those after 8 to 12 months. Our results support the current belief that the optimal duration of NHT is longer than 3 months.