The evolving role of chemotherapy and other systemic therapies for managing localized prostate cancer

The recent literature is reviewed regarding the use of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy, and promising new molecular targeted agents in patients with high risk localized prostate cancer.

A MEDLINE literature review was performed of studies evaluating chemotherapy and other systemic therapies for localized prostate cancer.

Patients with prostate cancer at high risk for recurrence despite local therapy include those with clinical stage T3 disease, biopsy Gleason scores of 8 to 10 or serum prostate specific antigen greater than 20 ng/ml. Although hormonal therapy has palliative benefit for the majority of patients with metastatic disease, randomized trials have not demonstrated a survival benefit from its administration before surgery for high risk localized disease. Recent trials have shown that cytotoxic chemotherapy has significant activity in hormone refractory prostate cancer, which has led to ongoing clinical trials that are investigating the use of chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting. Published and ongoing clinical trials in the use of systemic therapy for localized prostate cancer are reviewed.

Systemic therapy for advanced prostate cancer is improving. Efforts to use such therapies for managing localized disease are ongoing.