Neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapeutic strategies are widely employed for a variety of cancer entities. The basic aim and the potential benefit for the patient are to eradicate micrometastases, with the downside being side effects and overtreatment. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant hormone therapy for prostate cancer have been investigated in a number of clinical studies. Based on these studies, the following recommendations can be given: there is currently no indication for neoadjuvant therapy prior to radical prostatectomy. Adjuvant therapy using LHRH analogs for patients with lymph node-positive tumors following radical prostatectomy can be considered but should be weighed against early"biochemical progression triggered" treatment. For locally advanced tumors the same is true (bicalutamide): adjuvant treatment has shown an advantage in clinically progression-free survival; however, no systematic comparison is available with early"biochemical progression triggered" treatment. Before radiotherapy 2 months of neoadjuvant LHRH analog treatment has shown a survival advantage in patients with locally advanced tumors and a low risk of systemic spread (Gleason <7). For high-risk patients, long-term (2-3 years) adjuvant LHRH analog treatment is indicated.