SHOULD ASYMPTOMATIC PROGRESSION FOLLOWING DEFINITIVE LOCAL TREATMENT FOR PROSTATE-CANCER BE TREATED

Asymptomatic progression following definitive therapy for prostate can cer can take the form of a detectable prostate-specific antigen (PSA) or local recurrence following radical prostatectomy or a rising PSA or palpable recurrence following radiotherapy. Options for treatment inc lude hormonal therapy, radiotherapy, salvage surgery, and experimental therapies. Although such forms of treatment have known effects on int ermediate endpoints, such as reduction of PSA, the overall effect on s urvival and quality of life is uncertain.