The palliative therapy of advanced prostate cancer, with particular reference to the results of recent European clinical trials.
The palliative therapy of advanced prostate cancer still remains a perplexing problem. If advanced prostate cancer is defined either as a primary advanced-stage tumour (T3, T4, N0-N1), or a rising PSA level after primary and hopefully curative therapy, or the traditional patient presenting with small- or large-volume metastases with or without symptoms, then some 60% of all patients have advanced disease when first seen. There is still a need for the continuation of large prospective, randomized studies in all stages of this common illness, to define the role of the different therapeutic options at our disposal. The urological and urooncological worlds must be patient and not jump to too many early conclusions over the benefit of the various therapies until a statistical advantage for both individual and combined therapeutic options has been shown.
Newling
D W
DW
Academic Hospital, Vrije Universteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002369:Castration; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D009919:Orchiectomy; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D004967:Estrogens