title: Weekly epirubicin in patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the benefit of weekly epirubicin in the treatment of metastatic hormone-resistant prostate cancer. One hundred and forty-eight patients with metastatic hormone-resistant prostate cancer received weekly 30-min intravenous infusions of epirubicin 30 mg m(2) of body surface area. The primary end-point was palliative response, defined as a reduction in pain intensity and an improvement in performance status. The secondary end-points were the duration of the palliative response, quality of life and survival. Fifty-seven (44%) of the 131 evaluable patients met the primary criterion of palliative response after six treatment cycles and 73 (56%) after 12 cycles; the median duration of the response was 9 months (range 1-11). The median global quality of life improved in 52% of the patients after six cycles and in 68% after 12 cycles. The 12- and 18-month survival rates were respectively 56 and 31%, with a median survival of 13+ months (range 1-36). The treatment was well tolerated: grade 3 neutropenia was observed in 8% of the patients, grade 3 anaemia in 7%, and grade 3 thrombocytopenia in 3%. None of the patients developed grade 4 toxicity or congestive heart failure. Weekly epirubicin chemotherapy can lead to a rapid and lasting palliative result in patients with metastatic HRPC, and have a positive effect on the quality of life and survival.
authors.affiliation: Medical Oncology Division, Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petrioli
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Fiaschi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pozzessere
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Messinese
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sabatino
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marsili
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Correale
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manganelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salvestrini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Francini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000188:drug therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D015251:Epirubicin