title: PSA and second-line therapy of hormone refractory prostate carcinoma.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to correlate PSA response with subjective response (bone pain and performance status), in patients treated for hormone refractory carcinoma of the prostate. Twenty-four patients were introduced into the study. Median PSA was 198 ng/ml. Symptom score, performance status and PSA were monitored monthly for 3 months and then 3-monthly. Sixteen patients (66%) showed a PSA response (median value 10 ng/ml). In 8 patients (33%) PSA was <4 ng/ml. Eight patients (33%) only had a subjective response. However, 75% of the patients with a PSA value <4 ng/ml had a subjective improvement. On the other hand, subjective response was 25% only in patients in whom PSA value decreased to <50% of the initial value but >4 ng/ml. In conclusion, PSA response is not always related to subjective improvement and does not always implicate a beneficial effect of the therapy for the patient.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Urology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. vserrett@mbox.infcom.it
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Serretta
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Contino
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pavone
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pomara
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Melloni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavone-Macaluso
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen