Stato attuale e prospettive nel trattamento del carcinoma prostatico ormonoresistente

Androgen deprivation therapy is the cornestone treatment for men with de novo or recurrent metastatic prostate cancer. Unfortunately, nearly all patients will develop androgen-independent ("hormone-refractory") disease that results in progressive clinical deterioration and ultimately death. Until recently, chemotherapy has been shown to palliate symptoms of hormone refractory disease but not to improve survival. Today, two large phase III trials have demonstrated an overall survival advantage for docetaxel-based regimens compared with the best standard of care. Indeed, investigations into the pathophysiology of this malignancy, novel biological agents, skeletal protectants, and radiopharmaceuticals, are expanding the clinician's armamentarium and improving patient outcomes.