Objective: Endocrine therapy is the standard treatment for metastatic prostate cancer although progression to androgen independence is inevitable. To evaluate prognostic factors in metastatic prostate cancer, patients who had been treated with endocrine therapy were investigated especially for the change in prostate volume. Methods: Fifty-nine patients with untreated metastatic prostate cancer who received endocrine therapy were included in the present study. Blood chemistry, histological grade, extent of bony metastasis, clinical response to hormone therapy including the short-term change in prostate volume and serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and prognosis of the patients were evaluated. Results: With univariate analysis, hemoglobin concentration, serum alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), histological grade, extent of bony disease, the short-term change of prostate volume and response of PSA at 3 months were shown to be significant prognostic factors. Response of PSA, LDH and the change in prostate volume were significant for predicting prognosis with multivariate analyses. Five-year survival rate in patients whose prostate had regressed 20% or more at 1 month and whose PSA had been normalized at 3 months was 67%, whereas that in patients whose prostate had regressed less than 20% and whose PSA had not been normalized was 0%. Conclusions: The patients in whom PSA had not been normalized at 3 months and the prostate volume had regressed less than 20% at 1 month were in the high-risk group. New or more aggressive treatment should be considered.

Keywords:
Prostate cancer, Prostate volume, Prostate-specific antigen, Endocrine therapy, Prognostic factors
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel
2003
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.