Management of relapsed prostatic carcinoma following primary treatment.

Early diagnosis and monitoring of progression for relapsed prostatic carcinoma after primary treatment is necessary, and early intervention recommended. This has now been made possible with rising prostate-specific antigen levels as an indication of the endpoint of treatment failure. Patients with relapsed disease can be divided into three groups: those relapsing following curative treatment with surgery or radiotherapy with local or distant metastases; patients who have been treated with primary hormonal palliative therapy or combination hormonal-chemotherapy relapsing after the first palliative treatment, and patients relapsing after all acceptable therapies for the treatment of prostate cancer. The management of these groups of patients is discussed.