Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are important for reducing pain and improving quality of life. They may be particularly effective in combination with chemotherapy drugs, such as mitoxantrone. There is some indication that corticosteroids may even reduce PSA levels and boost survival in some patients. Treatments using standard cancer chemotherapy improve symptoms but not survival rates. Drugs used alone or in combinations include vinblastine and estramustine.
Immunotherapy involves drugs designed to trigger the body's immune system to attack the cancer.
They are being investigated for many cancers with varying success and may eventually be effective for both advanced and local prostate cancer. Genetically designed vaccines that stimulate factors in the immune system to attack prostate cancer cells are also being tested. In two patients, PSA levels dropped by more than half. Another investigative treatment showing promise is the use of immune factors called T-cells that are developed specifically to attack prostate cancer cells. Other Agents .