Abstract
The median age of patients with prostatic cancer is high and patients with advanced metastatic prostatic cancer are therefore even older. However, the decision to use chemotherapy must entail a consideration of the balance between likely benefits and expected toxic effects of the therapy. In chemocurable diseases in younger patients the decision is easy. In most other adult malignancies it is more difficult, as has recently been discussed by Kearsley [1]. He stressed the need for the therapist to be realistic in his aim of palliation. Particular attention has to be paid to the impact of the induced toxicities to the patients, together with the impact of investigations used in trying to assess response. These remarks are even more important for the physician treating these elderly prostatic cancer patients.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Kearsly J: Cytotoxic chemotherapy for common adult malignancies: “The emperor’s new clothes” revisited? Br Med J 1986 (293):871–876
Murphy GP: Chemotherapy: is it effective in treatment of prostatic cancer? Urology 1984 (24 Suppl):41–47
Eisenberger MA, Simon R, O’Dwyer PJ, Wittes, RE, Friedman MA: A re-evaluation of non-hormonal cytotoxic chemotherapy in the treatment of prostatic carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 1985 (3):827–841
Jones WG, Akaza H, Van Oosterom AT, Kotake T: Objective response criteria in phase II and phase III studies. In: Schröder FH et al (eds) Progress in Urological Oncology II. Alan R Liss, New York (in press)
WHO Handbook for Reporting Results of Cancer Treatment (1979). World Health Organisation. Offset Publication No 48, Geneva
Elder JS, Gibbons RP: Results of trials of the USA National Prostatic Cancer Project. In: Schröder FH, Richards B (eds) Therapeutic Principles in Metastatic Prostatic Cancer. Alan R Liss, New York 1985 pp 221–242
Yagoda A: Cytotoxic agents in prostate cancer: an enigma. Semin Urol 1983 (1):311–321
Tannock IF: Is there evidence that chemotherapy is of benefit to patients with carcinoma of the prostate? J Clin Oncol 1985 (3):1013–1021
Ozols RF, Yagoda A: Genito-urinary tumours. In:Pinedo HM, Chabner BA (eds) Cancer Chemotherapy 17 (The EORTC Cancer Chemotherapy Annual). Elsevier, Amsterdam/New York/Oxford 1985 pp 347–365
Stoter G, Rozencweig M, Pinedo HM: Genito-urinary tumours. In: Pinedo HM (ed) Cancer Chemotherapy 1979 (The EORTC Cancer Chemotherapy Annual 1). Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam/Oxford 1979 pp 317–339
Stoter G, Williams SD: Genito-urinary tumours. In: Pinedo HM, Chabner BA (eds) Cancer Chemotherapy 1983 (The EORTC Cancer Chemotherapy Annual 5). Elsevier, Amsterdam/New YortoOxford 1983 pp 357–368
Stoter G, Williams SD, Einhorn LH: Genito-urinary tumours. In: Pinedo HM (ed) Cancer Chemotherapy 1980 (The EORTC Cancer Chemotherapy Annual 2). Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam/Oxford 1980 pp 306–320
Stoter G, Williams SD, Einhorn LH: Genito-urinary tumours. In: Pinedo HM (ed) Cancer Chemotherapy 1981 (The EORTC Cancer Chemotherapy Annual 3). Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam/Oxford 1981 pp 317–332
Williams SD, Stoter G, Einhorn LH: Genito-urinary tumours. In: Pinedo HM (ed) Cancer Chemotherapy 1982 (The EORTC Cancer Chemotherapy Annual 4). Excerpta Medica, Amsterdam/Oxford 1982 pp 298–308
Williams SD, Stoter G: Genito-urinary tumours. In: Pinedo HM, Chabner BA (eds) Cancer Chemotherapy /6 (The EORTC Cancer Chemotherapy Annual). Elsevier, Amsterdam/New York/Oxford 1984 pp 344–362
Carter SK, Wasserman TH: The chemotherapy of urologic cancer. Cancer 1975 (36):729–747
Braich T, Ahmann FR, Garewal HS, Robertone A, Salmon SE: Phase II trial of 4’-deoxydoxorubicin (esorubicin) in hormone resistant prostate cancer. Invest New Drugs 1986 (4):193–196
Moore MR, Trôner MB, De Simone P, Birch R, Irwin L: Phase II evaluation of weekly cisplatin in metastatic hormone-resistant prostate cancer: a South-Eastern Study Group trial. Cancer Treat Rep 1986 (70):541–542
Dexeus FH, Logothetis C, Samuels ML, Hossan B: Phase II study of spirogermanium in metastatic prostate cancer. Cancer Treat Rep 1986 (70):1129–1130
Scher HI, Sternberg C, Heston WDW, Watson RC, Niedzwiecki D, Smart T, Hollander P, Yagoda A: Etoposide in prostatic cancer: experimental studies and phase II trial in patients with bidimensionally measurable disease. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 1986 (18):24–26
Robinson MRG, Chandrysekran S, Newling DWW, Richards B, Smith PH: Low dose doxorubicin in the management of advanced carcinoma of the prostate. Br J Urol 1983 (55):747–748
Torti FM, Aston D, Lum BL, Kohler M, Williams R, Spaulding JT, Shortliffe L, Freiha FS: Weekly doxorubicin in endocrine-refractory carcinoma of the prostate. J Clin Oncol 1983 (1):477–482
Jones WG, Fossa SD, Bono AV, Klijn JGM, De Pauw M, Sylvester R: An EORTC phase II study of low dose weekly epirubicin in metastatic prostate cancer (submitted for publication)
Jones WG, Fossa SD, Bono AV, Croles JJ, Stoter G, De Pauw M, Sylvester M: Mitomycin C in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer: report of an EORTC phase II study. World J Urol 1986 (4):182–185
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1988 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
van Oosterom, A.T. (1988). Chemotherapy. In: Denis, L. (eds) The Medical Management of Prostate Cancer. ESO Monographs. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73238-6_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-73238-6_11
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-73240-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-73238-6
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive