PCA WEB MAP Late stage prostate cancer refers to Stage D prostate cancer that has spread widely, and is becoming or has become Hormone Resistant or unresponsive to standard hormone therapy. Sometimes cycling antiandrogen therapy may induce one or several more remissions. If a significant drop occurs the drug is excluded until the PSA rises to similar levels, and the it is reintroduced. In some patients several such cycles may occur. Chemotherapy has in general not had excellent results in late stage prostate cancer, but searches for an active combination continues.
Occasional patients respond well.
Trials with taxotere or tamoxiphen sometimes combined with estramustine have also shown responses in a significant number of patients. Thalidomide is also under study. There are many clinical trials with other drugs being carried out at many centers including ours. External beam radiotherapy may be given to specific body areas, especially bones that are involved with prostate cancer and are painful, or are in danger of breaking. It radiates those cells, killing many of them, and providing relief of pain in many patients.