[Combination hormone-chemotherapy versus hormone therapy alone in the initial treatment of advanced prostate carcinoma--a prospective cooperative study].

The effectiveness of orchiectomy plus an antigonadotropic therapy alone (ethinylestradiol sulfonate), of orchiectomy plus a combined hormone and chemotherapy (ethinylestradiol sulfonate plus vincristine/vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate) and of orchiectomy plus chemotherapy (vincristine/vinblastine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate) alone for the initial treatment of advanced (stage IV) carcinoma of the prostate was compared. The cumulative 4-year survival rate was better after combined hormone and chemotherapy. Our results do not justify the administration of combined hormone and chemotherapy in previously untreated advanced carcinoma of the prostate.