[Treatment options for hormone-refractory prostate cancer]

Surgical or medical androgen deprivation therapy in its multiple variants represents the standard therapeutic approach in the management of metastatic prostate cancer resulting in a primary response rate of about 90%. However, about 90% of the men treated will develop PSA progression within 3-4 years resulting in androgen-independent and later on hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Management of AIPCA and HRPCA still represents a therapeutic challenge despite the development of new and effective treatment options. PSA progression following primary ADT defines an androgen-refractory but still hormone-sensitive PCA which might respond to secondary hormonal manipulations such as antiandrogen withdrawal, addition of nonsteroidal antiandrogens, and administration of estrogens, ketoconazole and hydrocortisone, and somatostatin analogues. Secondary hormonal manipulations will result in a PSA decline >50% in about 60-80% of the patients with a mean duration of 7-17 months depending on the type of treatment. PSA progression following secondary endocrine treatment defines hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPCA) which might be treated by systemic chemotherapy. Based on the results of two prospective, randomized clinical phase III trials comparing docetaxel and mitoxantrone, docetaxel results in a statistically significant survival benefit of 2.5 months, a significantly higher PSA and pain response, and represents the treatment of choice in the management of HRPCA. Bisphosphonates such as zoledronate represent another cornerstone in the management of PSA-progressive PCA demonstrating a significant benefit with regard to the prevention of skeletal-related events. Furthermore, bisphosphonates might be indicated in the treatment of symptomatic bone pain as has been demonstrated for ibandronate and zoledronate. The current article critically reflects on the various therapeutic options in the management of PSA progression following primary androgen deprivation for advanced prostate cancer. The development, rationale, and results of systemic chemotherapy are discussed critically and a therapeutic algorithm is demonstrated.