Taxotere Improves Survival in Prostate Cancer

One step forward in prostate cancer: As per a press release by Sanofi-Aventis, long-term results indicate that Taxotere (docetaxel) improves survival in patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is second only to non-melanoma skin cancers as the most usually diagnosed cancer in men in the U.S. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that is located between the bladder and rectum. It is responsible for forming a component of semen. Prostate cancer is stimulated to grow by male hormones, especially testosterone. Hormone treatment, which is intended to reduce levels of male hormones available to cancer cells, is a therapy option for men diagnosed with prostate cancer. By reducing levels of male hormones, the cancer cells are deprived of their growth stimulus, causing the cancer to shrink. Unfortunately, patients ultimately stop responding to hormone treatment after receiving therapy for a period of time; they are then referred to as having hormone-refractory or androgen-independent prostate cancer.