Update in systemic therapy of prostate cancer: improvement in quality and duration of life

Abstract

Overall survival benefit with a docetaxel and prednisone regimen in metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer marked a major advance in the management of prostate cancer. Immunotherapy, antiangiogenic therapies and targeted agents are areas of active research interest. Simultaneous progress in palliative and supportive care has enabled us to improve the quality of life of advanced prostate cancer patients. Multiple predictors of outcome have been reported, and systemic therapy is being actively explored in localized disease. This review attempts to summarize the risk profiling strategy in prostate cancer and the existing therapies in high-risk prostate cancer, including some of the novel agents under investigation.

Keywords::

• adjuvant therapy
• chemotherapy
• localized
• metastatic
• prognostic predictor
• prostate cancer
• radiation therapy

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Ulka Vaishampayan has research support from Sanofi–Aventis Inc. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Notes

AD: Androgen deprivation; PSA: Prostate-specific antigen; RFS: Relapse-free survival; RT: Radiation therapy; RTOG: Radiation Therapy Oncology Group.

AD: Androgen deprivation; ADT: AD therapy; PFS: Progression-free survival.