[Treatment of prostatic cancer]

Since more than half of stage A-C prostatic cancers show pelvic lymph node metastasis (D1, pN1-3), a staging operation is required at the start of treatment. Most pN0 and pN1 (stage A2BC) cases have been treated with radiation, and good results have been obtained. Endocrine therapy, consisting of orchiectomy and immediate administration of a large dose, followed by an intermediate dose of estrogen or antiandrogen, was applied to pN2-4 and D2 cancer cases. Five-year survival was approximately 40%, and side effects were less marked than those reported in western countries. Factors affecting prognosis during endocrine therapy were grade, acid phosphatase response, and tissue androphilic protein. For D2 with risk factors, chemoendocrine therapy was applied, but no improvement in survival was observed.