[Update of the treatment of advanced prostate cancer and management of its complications].
Prostate adenocarcinoma is the leading cause of cancer in Spain, among men older than 65. 1,200 new cases out of every 100,000 males are diagnosed with prostate cancer on an annual basis. In the United States, this illness represents the second leading cause of death due to cancer in males. In those patients whose prostate tumors progress after surgery or radiotherapy, or have metastatic disease when diagnosed, a systemic approach in order to improve their quality of life and overall survival is mandatory. First line hormone therapies usually reach a proper control of the tumor maintaining an acceptable quality of life. However, most of these tumors becomes androgen-independent over time and behave as a more aggressive cancer type. In these patients, combination therapy protocols have recently demonstrated a benefit not only in terms of symptoms control and response rates but also in improving survival. In addition, several new molecules are currently under study. The accurate knowledge of the symptoms due to disease spreading as well as treatment's side effects is necessary to provide an appropriate palliative management that contributes to an improvement of the quality of life in advanced prostate cancer patients.
Gil-Bazo
Ignacio
I
Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Ignacio Martínez-Salamanca
Juan
J
Bianco
Fernando J
FJ
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*