PROGNOSIS OF PATIENTS WITH PROSTATE CARCINOMA PRESENTING AS NONREGIONAL LYMPH-NODE METASTASES

Objective: The mode of progression in patients with prostate cancer wi th metastasis to nonregional lymph nodes was examined in order to know whether the site of metastasis effects the prognosis of prostate canc er. Methods: From 1986 to 1995 at the Chiba University Hospital, 205 c ases of prostatic cancer with distant metastases were experienced, In 17 of them, nonregional lymph node metastases were observed at the dia gnosis, of whom 10 also had bone metastases, Results: There was no sta tistical difference in prognosis between 17 patients with nonregional lymph node metastases and remaining 188 patients with metastatic prost ate cancer. In all patients metastasized to nonregional lymph nodes, s erum prostate-specific antigen and/or prostatic acid phosphatase level s were elevated. Anti-androgen therapy was effective in 15 cases and 5 -year survival rate was 45.8%. Patients without bone metastases at the initial diagnosis could survive longer than those with metastases to bone (p < 0.05), Conclusions: From these observations, endocrine thera py was effective even in patients with distant lymph node metastases.