Prognostic factors in advanced prostatic carcinoma treated with total androgen blockade. Flutamide with orchiectomy or with LHRH analogues. A Belgian multicentric study of 546 patients.

Prognostic factors were evaluated in advanced loco-regional (M0) or distant metastatic (M1) prostatic carcinoma treated with total androgen blockade (flutamide with either orchiectomy of LHRH-analogues), in 546 patients from a Belgian multicentric study. After a mean follow-up of 16.5 months (maximum 37 months) 113 (21%) patients had progressed (90 were patients with M1 disease (31%)). The estimated median progression-free survival exceeded 37.5 months. The results of a univariate analysis show that the following parameters are important prognostic factors with respect to progression-free survival in these patients: M stage, G grade, ECOG performance status, weight loss, concomitant disease, pain, dysuria and haemoglobin (Lee-Desu test, p < or = 0.01). From a multivariate analysis (Cox regression) the following prognostic factors were indicative of a decrease in progression-free survival: M1 stage, high initial G grade, ECOG performance status > I, high serum PSA, presence of concomitant disease, presence of pain and absence of dysuria. Age did not appear to be a statistically significant prognostic factor.