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Background: The standard treatment of patients with metastatic, hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) currently consists of medical or surgical castration. The addition of a cytotoxic chemotherapy was unable to provide a survival benefit over castration alone in several clinical trials using different chemotherapy regimens., Results: Even a preliminary clinical trial using a docetaxel-based chemohormonal combination did not show a survival benefit. In contrast, two more recently published clinical trials (CHAARTED and STAMPEDE) using docetaxel in combination with castration provided evidence for a substantial improvement in overall survival. The survival benefit was 14 and 22 months in the two trials. In addition, the CHAARTED trial showed that patients with high volume disease may benefit most from chemohormonal treatment., Conclusion: According to the current available evidence, the new standard of treatment for patients therefore consists of castration in combination with docetaxel-based chemotherapy and should be offered to all patients who are fit to receive chemotherapy.

Background: Antihormonal and cytotoxic therapy options are available for the therapy of metastasized prostate cancer (mPC). Because no comparative studies are available, especially for castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRCP), it remains unclear which patients will profit best from which therapy., Objectives: Previous data on the sequence of the various therapy options show that correct selection of the first line therapy for mCRPC can have an influence on the prognosis of the patient. In this position paper the various therapy options are critically illustrated and the clinical and pathohistological criteria for selection of the first line therapy of mCRPC are discussed., Results: Molecular markers are an important aid for future patient selection and individualized therapy for optimal use of the available forms of therapy.

Multimodal pain management is a comprehensive treatment of complex chronic pain syndromes. In addition to medical therapy various other specialized therapeutic interventions based on the biopsychosocial model of pain origin and chronic pain development, are added. During the last few years treatment centers for chronic pain have been established throughout Germany. Multimodal pain management has been included in the official catalogue of the recognized medical procedures for day clinic units as well as for inpatient pain management. In daily practice there is, however, still a lack of clarity and of consistency about the components that multimodal pain management should contain. This is the reason for the ad hoc commission on multimodal interdisciplinary pain management of the German Pain Society to propose the following position paper that has been worked out in a multilevel and interdisciplinary consensus process. The paper describes the mandatory treatment measures in the four core disciplines of multimodal pain management, pain medicine, psychotherapy, exercise therapy including physiotherapy and assistant medical professions including nurses.