TREATMENT OF STAGE D HORMONE-RESISTANT CARCINOMA OF THE PROSTATE WITH ESTRAMUSTINE PHOSPHATE

The authors report on 51 patients with hormone-resistant, stage D prostatic carcinoma who were treated with estramustine phosphate and followed for at least 6 months. Of the 51 patients 5 (10 %) had a partial objective response, 30 (59%) remained stable and 16 (31%) had progression of the disease. All of those patients who had a partial response or remained stable also experienced subjective improvement as judged by relief of pain and performance status. Approximately 8% of the patients will be unable to take estramustine phosphate because of intolerable gastrointestinal side effects.