Response criteria for the prostate of the USA national prostatic cancer project

Response criteria developed by the national Prostatic Cancer Project to evaluate chemotherapy for advanced disease and as an adjuvant in early disease are described. Subjective and objective procedures and tests are used to compare pre- and post-treatment disease activity in advanced disease. These patients enter trials in demonstrated progression; hence stabilization of activity was considered a category of objective response. Other response categories include the rare complete response and less rare partial regression, with progression for non-responders. In adjuvant studies response indicators are the incidence of recurring disease and length of disease-free-interval.