[ST52 treatment of cancer of the prostate during the hormonal resistance phase]

Stilboestrol phosphate (ST 52) was evaluated on pain, general status, life expectancy and PSA, in a retrospective study of patients with prostatic carcinoma and relapse to hormonal treatment.

32 patients were treated by infusion of Stilboestrol phosphate at a daily escalating dose from 1.2 to 3 g over a period of 10 days, then subsequently oral administration.

Minor complications, especially nausea were observed in 12 cases but no major complication or interruption of treatment. Improvement for pain alone or with general status was obtained in 50% (16 cases) at 3 months, but at one year only 10% were still improved. Median survival was 8 months, with 19.4 months for responders at the end of infusions and 4.2 months for non-responders-respectively.

Stilboestrol phosphate can obtain a clinical response with low morbidity when relapse to hormonal treatment occurs. Infusion responders have a better life expectancy.