Adding Docetaxel or Zoledronic Acid to ADT for Advanced Prostate Cancer?

Evidence from a recent U.S. intergroup study (CHAARTED; NEJM JW Oncol Hematol Apr 2013 and N Engl J Med 2015;

373:737) provides compelling evidence supporting the use of docetaxel at initiation of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in men with high-volume metastatic prostate cancer.

To examine this approach further, investigators in Europe conducted an industry-funded, randomized, controlled phase II/III study involving 2962 patients with newly diagnosed, metastatic, node-positive, or high-risk locally advanced disease. Patients who were previously treated with radical surgery, radiotherapy, or both and had relapsed with high-risk features were also eligible. Most patients (94%) were newly diagnosed; of these, 62% had metastatic disease. Pati…