1. ¹The Departments of Radiation Oncology and Urology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
2. ²Department of Mathematics, Abilene Christian University, Abilene, TX, USA
3. ³Department of Urology, Scott and White Memorial Hospital and Clinic, Temple, TX, USA

Correspondence: Dr GP Swanson, The Departments of Radiation Oncology and Urology, The University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC 7889, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA. E-mail: gswanson@ctrc.net

Received 12 February 2007; Revised 20 April 2007; Accepted 20 April 2007; Published online 22 May 2007.

Abstract

Although the number of men with lymph node-positive prostate cancer has declined, it is still significant and the challenge remains on how best to treat these patients. Only long-term follow-up can give a true indication of the outcome in prostate cancer. We evaluated our experience in treating lymph node-positive prostate cancer with a median follow-up of 10.2 years. The overall 5-year survival was 78% and the 10-year survival was 56% . Length of tumor control depends on the type of treatment given. Adding androgen ablation improves the duration of control dramatically, although optimal timing is still uncertain.