5-fluorouracil and low-dose recombinant interferon-alpha-2a in patients with hormone-refractory adenocarcinoma of the prostate.
BACKGROUND
The effectiveness of a chemotherapy regimen including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and recombinant interferon-alpha-2a (rIFN-alpha-2a) was evaluated in hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients.


METHODS
Patients received a continuous intravenous infusion of 5-FU at 600 mg/m2/day for 5 days (D1-D5), followed by a bolus injection of 5-FU on D15 and D22. Patients received intramuscular injection of rIFN-alpha-2a at 3 million IU on D1, D3, D5, D15, and D22. This schedule was repeated every 4 weeks.


RESULTS
Between 1993 and 1995, 23 patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer were enrolled in this study. Two of five patients with nodal disease exhibited partial responses according to the NPCP criteria. Fourteen of 17 patients with bone disease showed stable disease. Of 21 patients assessible for response, 9 patients had a decrease in the PSA level greater than 50% of baseline. Bone pain disappeared partially or completely in 8 of 14 patients with this symptom at entry. The median overall survival was 18 months. The associate toxicity was well tolerable.


CONCLUSIONS
Combination chemotherapy of 5-FU and low dose rIFN-alpha-2a in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer proved feasible, and with acceptable toxicity.
Shinohara
N
N
Department of Urology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Japan. nobuo-s@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Demura
T
T
Matsumura
K
K
Toyoda
K
K
Kashiwagi
A
A
Nagamori
S
S
Ohmuro
H
H
Ohzono
S
S
Koyanagi
T
T
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D005472:Fluorouracil