Treatment of Liver Metastases with Intravenous Diethylstilbestrol Diphosphate

A patient with Stage B adenocarcinoma of prostate treated with radical prostatectomy and interstitial radioactive gold presented ten years later with liver metastases without evidence of local recurrence. This patient was treated only with massive doses of intravenous diethylstilbestrol diphos- phate, with regression of metastases and marked decline of the acid and alkaline phosphatase levels. Although intravenous diethylstilbestrol diphos- phate (Stilphostrol) has now been used in the treatment of prostatic adenocarcinoma for over twenty years and has been found effective for relief of bone pain over short periods of time, the chemotherapeutic and direct cytostatic action has remained in doubt during this time. The exact mode of action of the compound has been poorly understood.