Chemotherapy for localized, high-risk prostate cancer

Abstract

Chemotherapy for prostate cancer currently has an established role in the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer. In addition, there is strong evidence that androgen ablation in addition to radiotherapy provides a benefit above and beyond radiotherapy alone in patients with a poor prognosis, perhaps because of an effect of androgen ablation on subclinical distant disease. There are currently several clinical trials that are investigating whether the addition of chemotherapy with known efficacy in the hormone-refractory setting can provide a survival advantage when used adjunctly. The role of chemotherapy in the nonmetastatic prostate, hormone-naïve prostate cancer patient will be discussed.