Treatment of estrogen-resistant stage D carcinoma of prostate with cis diamminedichloroplatinum.

Forty-five patients with rapidly progressive, estrogen-resistant Stage D adenocarcinoma of the prostate were treated with infusions of cis diamminedichloroplatinum (cis platinum) (1 mg./Kg./week) for six weeks initially and every three weeks thereafter. A partial objective response was observed in 13 of 45 patients (29 per cent). This response lasted from two to sixteen months with an average of six months. Eighteen patients (40 per cent) had a significant decrease or disappearance of bone pain and became ambulatory. Six patients (13 per cent) remained stable, and 8 patients (18 per cent) did not respond to treatment and showed progression of their disease. The toxicity of the treatment was mild to moderate. Most of the patients were treated in the outpatient department. Cis platinum appears to be the most effective drug available to date for the treatment of advanced carcinoma of the prostate.