[Curative radiotherapy in stage C prostatic carcinoma. Experiences with radiotherapy-endocrine treatment]

In a prospective study 209 patients with prostatic cancer stage C who were seen between 1968-1974 received endocrine treatment and radiotherapy (6000 r) of the prostate without inclusion of regional lymph nodes. The patients were seen every 6 months up to 8 years. 247 transrectal biopsies and 7 transurethral resections of the prostate were performed. The analysis of the biopsies revealed that the combined endocrine and radiotherapy is followed by tumor neutralisation of about 70% in highly differentiated prostatic cancers and less effective in lower differentiated tumors. 80% of biopsies from tumors responding to therapy still show tumor cells. The 5-year-survival corresponded with tumor regression and tumor size. However a prognosis on the basis of these findings is not possible for the individual case.