Treatment of stage D hormone-resistant carcinoma of the prostate with estramustine phosphate.

We 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 per cent) had a partial objective response, 30 (59 per cent) remained stable and 16 (31 per cent) 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 per cent of the patients will be unable to take estramustine phosphate because of intolerable gastrointestinal side effects.