The Committee noted that there are ongoing trials, which include the MRC STAMPEDE study, and trials in which docetaxel plus prednisone or prednisolone is the standard treatment arm and is used in combination with other therapies such as zoledronic acid, strontium-89 and bevacizumab, in the experimental treatment arm.
The Committee identified a need for research to assess the quality of life associated with different treatments for hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer using generic quality-of-life instruments that are suitable for the purposes of cost-effectiveness analyses. The Committee also identified a need for research on the effects of docetaxel over a longer follow-up period, and in a patient group that is more representative of a wider patient population in terms of age, performance status and comorbidity, than in the RCTs considered in this appraisal.