Phase II study of epirubicin in advanced hormone-resistant prostatic carcinoma.
Twenty-nine patients with metastatic prostate cancer that had progressed following orchiectomy were treated with intravenous epirubicin 90 mg/m2 every 28 days. Their median age was 71 years (range 49-78) and the median Zubrod scale (WHO score) was 1. Two patients had soft tissue lesions, 20 had bone metastases and 7 had both. Tumour response was assessed according to the National Prostatic Cancer Project criteria. Of 29 patients, 11 (38%) achieved a partial remission. The median duration of response was 6 months and the median survival time of all patients was 9 months (range 2-27). It seemed that treatment with epirubicin was not associated with an increase in survival. Toxicity was moderate and consisted of alopecia and mild nausea/vomiting. There was no significant haematological toxicity and no clinical cardiotoxicity. It was concluded that epirubicin was active in hormone-resistant metastatic prostate cancer in approximately 33% of the patients.
Delaere
K P
KP
Department of Urology, De Wever Hospital, Heerlen, The Netherlands.
Leliefeld
H
H
Peulen
F
F
Stapper
E W
EW
Smeets
J
J
Wils
J
J
D000368:Aged; D000505:Alopecia / Q000139:chemically induced; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D004351:Drug Resistance; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D015251:Epirubicin