title: Symptomatic improvement associated with combined estramustine and vinblastine chemotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer.
abstract: We evaluated the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy using estramustine and velban for metastatic prostate cancer. Patients with progressive metasatatic prostate cancer and rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) values were evaluated between 1992 and 1994. All treatment was given on an outpatient basis. Vinblastine, 4 mg/m2 i.v., was given weekly for 6 weeks with a 2-week rest period. Estramustine, 10 mg/kg orally, was given in three divided doses for 6 weeks with a 2-week rest period between cycles. Of 15 patients, six (40%) had a response, in which a 25% decrease in PSA was associated with subjective improvement. There were no complete responses. Five partial responders had less pain. Median duration of response or time to progression was 9 months. Survival was 11.7 months for responders, 13.2 months for nonresponders. The combination of estramustine and velban is an effective therapy in progressive metastatic prostate cancer as measured by a decrease in PSA and improvement of symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Don Monti Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York 11030, USA.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Attivissimo
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Fetten
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kreis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000556:secondary*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004961:Estramustine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D015996:Survival Rate; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004961:Estramustine; D014747:Vinblastine; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen