Abstract
Hormonal treatment is the basis of initial therapy for patients with metastatic prostate carcinoma. The results of several studies published recently have shown that early initiation of docetaxel chemotherapy already in the castration-sensitive phase of the disease can significantly prolong patient survival.
The influence of chemotherapy on survival rates of high-risk patients is so significant that this strategy can be called the most important breakthrough in the treatment of metastatic prostate carcinoma in the last 10 years. Even though the exact definition of the subgroup of patients benefit most from chemotherapy is still uncertain, it should be considered in patients who are in good overall condition and suffer from widespread metastatic disease.