Is there a role for chemotherapy in prostate cancer?
There is evidence from randomised-controlled trials that patients with symptomatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer may experience palliative benefit from chemotherapy with mitoxantrone and prednisone. This treatment is well tolerated, even by elderly patients, although the cumulative dose of mitoxantrone is limited by cardiotoxicity. Treatment with docetaxel or paclitaxel, with or without estramustine, appears to convey higher rates of prostate-specific antigen response in phase II trials, but is more toxic. Large phase III trials comparing docetaxel with mitoxantrone have completed accrual. There is no role for chemotherapy in earlier stages of disease except in the context of a well-designed clinical trial.
Canil
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CM
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 2M9.
Tannock
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IF
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D004961:Estramustine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004967:Estrogens; D043823:Taxoids; D004961:Estramustine; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D011241:Prednisone