Seventeen patients with metastasized hormone-resistant prostate cancer were treated between January 1986 and October 1989 with combination chemotherapy at the Department of Urology, University of Würzburg Medical School. In 1 of the 17 patients a complete remission lasting 4 months was observed. In 3 patients a partial remission was noted, and in 5 others stable disease for an average of 6.8 months occurred. Tumor progression was seen in 7 patients. In all 16 evaluable cases palliation of tumor pain was achieved with this kind of treatment. The role of chemotherapy in the treatment of metastasized prostate cancer is discussed.