Localized advanced carcinoma of the prostate: Radiation therapy versus hormonal therapy

Since 1967, 26 patients with prostatic cancer T3,4NXMo have been treated by castration and estrogens; 30 patients received additional radiotherapy, 30 patients were submitted to radiotherapy only. Four year survival was best if radiotherapy only was the initial treatment though hormone treatment might be necessary during follow-up period. A low degree of differentiation of the growth worsens prognosis significantly. Irradiation complications can be reduced to an acceptable percentage. Transrectal prostatic needle aspiration in order to assess the presence of an estrogen effect—or its disappearance and at the same time reappearance of cancer cells—might be a useful tool in predicting failure of hormone treatment and in indicating local radiotherapy as a second attempt of “curative” treatment.