[Results of the treatment of prostatic cancer]

Two hundred and twenty patients with prostatic cancer were treated in our clinic during the past ten years between April, 1977 and March, 1987. The age distribution was from 45 to 91 years old and more than half of patients were in seventies. Stages A, B, C and D were 3.5%, 19.7%, 21.2% and 55.6%, respectively. Hormonal therapy was given in 175 cases (79.5%) as an initial treatment. The first therapy showed effectiveness in 181 (83.8%) of 216 cases; in 153 (87.4%) of 175 cases treated by hormonal therapy. Reactivation after the initial treatment was observed in 59 (32.6%) of 181 cases; in 48 (31.4%) of 153 cases treated by hormonal therapy. The interval between the start of treatment and reactivation for the stage D was significantly shorter than that for the other stages. Elevation of serum alkaline-phosphatase levels, accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and hydronephrosis were significant risk factors for reactivation. Of the 220 cases, 51 (23.2%) died of advanced cancer. The overall 5-year survival rate was 41.2%. High grade and high stage were significantly related to the poor prognosis. In our studies, as hormonal therapy, maintenance on 100 mg of diethylstilbestrol diphosphate daily was found effective for the treatment of prostatic cancer.