Optimizing treatment for men with advanced prostate cancer: Expert recommendations and the multidisciplinary approach

A multidisciplinary panel of 20 international experts, including urologists, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists, convened during the Advanced Prostate Cancer Multidisciplinary Team meeting in Rome, Italy, in January 2007, to discuss the multidisciplinary team approach and current patterns of care for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). During the meeting, the experts discussed several definitions currently used in prostate cancer management, including those for senior adult patients. In addition, the panel reviewed a series of patient case studies in order to provide feedback on current treatment practices and to identify possible strategies for best practice. It was stressed that treatment decisions for senior adult patients should not be based solely on patient age. Additionally, although historically treatment decisions for advanced prostate cancer have focused on palliative care, given the survival benefit associated with docetaxel-based chemotherapy across patient subgroups, more men are likely to be offered chemotherapy for advanced-stage disease in the future.