title: Treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer with dexamethasone: a prospective study in stage D2 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In order to evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone in the treatment of Japanese men with androgen-independent prostate cancer, a prospective study was conducted using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) as a primary end-point.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen Japanese men with stage D2 androgen-independent prostate cancer were registered and treatment was started. After ruling out anti-androgen withdrawal syndrome, they were treated with dexamethasone (1.5 mg daily). Patients were monitored for PSA, symptoms, radiologic response, survival rate, time to disease progression, time to treatment failure and complications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prostate-specific antigen levels decreased in nine patients (50.0%); five (27.8%) showed a 50% or greater decrease and two (11.1%) showed an 80% or greater decrease. For the nine patients, the mean duration of PSA response was 7.3 months and the median duration was 2.1 months (range, 1.2-27.5+). Bone pain, which was noted in 13 patients at study entry, improved in seven patients (53.8%). Of nine patients who had serial radiographic examinations with bone scan, three (33%) showed partial response, two (22%) were stable and four (44%) showed disease progression. Treatment was well tolerated, except for one patient who suffered a severe pulmonary infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dexamethasone decreased PSA levels and produced subjective symptomatic improvement in the patients with stage D2 androgen-independent prostate cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Okayama University Medical School, Japan. takasaika@aol.com
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saika
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kusaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsushima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamato
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suyama
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arata
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nasu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kumon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000728:Androgens; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D003907:Dexamethasone; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen