[Stage D1 prostatic cancer benefited by a single regimen of Estracyt]

One problem in the management of prostatic cancer is that about half of the patients with this disease have metastatic lesions at first diagnosis and therefore tend to be given palliative rather than radical therapy. We report here a patient with stage D prostatic cancer who was treated with a single regimen of estramustine phosphate (Estracyt). The patient was a 63-year-old man who was admitted to Keio University Hospital because of sudden onset of double vision. Under a presumptive diagnosis of brain tumor, he underwent thorough examination including brain CT, Ga and bone scan and basic blood tests, which revealed an extraordinarily high level of acid phosphatase. He was therefore referred to our urological division for investigation of possible prostatic cancer. On the basis of the results of urological examinations, a diagnosis of prostatic cancer, stage D, was confirmed. Accordingly, radical surgery was not indicated and instead he was started on oral Estracyt, to which he responded well. He has been enjoying a comfortable life to date, over one and a half years after initial referral.