title: Combination of epirubicin and cisplatin in hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer.
abstract: Anthracyclines and cisplatin have been shown separately to have modest activity in prostate cancer. The synergism between anthracyclines and cisplatin, with the lack of overlapping toxicities, led to the conduct of this phase II trial of the combination of epirubicin and cisplatin in hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer. Twenty-one evaluable patients with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer received epirubicin 100 mg/m2 followed by cisplatin 80 mg/m2 with prehydration and mannitol diuresis. Epirubicin and cisplatin produced a biochemical response (>50% decrease in tumor marker) in 32% of patients, symptomatic improvement in 38%, and a response in measurable and evaluable disease sites in 14%. Toxicities were mainly hematologic, with 77% and 41% >grade 2 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, respectively. Greater than grade 2 toxicities were: cardiac (three), renal secondary to sepsis (one), nausea and vomiting (two), weakness (one), mucositis (one), and diarrhea (one). The combination of epirubicin and cisplatin was associated with manageable toxicities in this elderly population; however, antitumor activity was marginal in this disease. Participation in clinical trials should continue to be offered to patients with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Oncology, Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation, University of Ottawa, Canada.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Huan
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Aitken
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yau
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D015251:Epirubicin; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D002945:Cisplatin