Age, ECOG-PS, docetaxel-schedule, pre-treatment PSA and visceral metastasis were not associated with response (P = 0.443, 0.914, 0.846, 0.605 and 0.325 respectively), whereas anaemia was significantly associated with response (22 out of the 29 responding patients (eg, 75.9%) have Hb ≥ 13.0 g/dl, P = 0.004). The gene discussed is GSTM1; the disease is anemia.