[Clinical evaluation of patients with relapsed prostatic carcinoma]

A retrospective clinical study of 41 patients with prostatic carcinoma relapsing after endocrine therapy at Wakayama Medical College from 1972 to 1987 was reported. Patient's age was from 51 to 80, with an average of 69.8 years. Initial clinical stage was A in 2 patients, C in 12, D in 26 patients and unknown in one. Pathological grade at the first visit was well-differentiated cell type in 4 patients, moderately differentiated in 13, poorly differentiated in 23 patients and unknown in one. Of 41 patients, 32 had a local progression and 26 had an appearance or progression of metastasis. Several factors which might be related to the interval between initial endocrine therapy and relapse were analysed. Following factors such as poorly differentiated cell type, stage D, high Gleason score and increase in acid phosphatase level were revealed to be related to the short interval. Chemotherapy consisting of various agents and their combination has not been able to improve the survival of the patients with relapsed prostatic carcinoma. 1-year survival rate of all cases after relapse was 41.3% and none of the patients survived over 3 years.