The Role of Hormonal Therapy in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer—Regional Perspectives: Asia

Despite a lack of data on the management of prostate cancer in Asia, the 1st Conference on Asian Trends in Prostate Cancer Hormone Therapy, held in 2001, put forward recommended consensus guidelines. However management of the disease is influenced by several factors including culture, philosophy and, particularly, economics. A survey in the Philippines showed that the main factors considered when choosing treatment are age of the patient and its cost. There is considerable variation in prostate cancer morbidity and mortality among the Asian countries but the incidence has been rising in recent years due to improvement in diagnosis. Treatment of the prostate cancer patient is individualised based on assessment of the biological potential of the disease, his life expectancy and his preferences. There is a need for large, randomised clinical trials to determine the efficacy of the newer modes of androgen ablation used as neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy to external beam irradiation and radical prostatectomy. It is vital that Asian countries are part of this global survey.