The management of locally advanced prostate cancer

The current management of locally advanced prostate cancer generally involves treatment with radiotherapy, hormone therapy or a combination of both. Of particular importance when choosing the type and duration of treatment is the patient's risk category, which predicts the risk of subclinical metastases based on prostate-specific antigen level, Gleason score and tumor stage. A breakout group at the PROstart 2002 workshop, charged with discussing this topic, concluded that hormone therapy is a recommended component of disease management and may improve survival, and that radiotherapy should be combined with neoadjuvant and or adjuvant hormone therapy.