Weekly docetaxel and vinorelbine (VIN-DOX) as first line treatment in patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
The current study investigated the clinical benefit, the impact on biochemical and objective response and tolerability of weekly docetaxel with vinorelbine (VIN-DOX) in symptomatic patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).


METHODS
Patients were treated with docetaxel 25 mg/m2 and vinorelbine 20 mg/m2, intravenously for 6 consecutive weeks followed by a 2 week rest repeatedly until disease progression. Clinical benefit evaluations, based on Karnofsky performance status (KPS) and pain measure, were assessed weekly during therapy. A clinical benefit response was defined as a sustained (> or =4 weeks) improvements in one of these parameters. Changes in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, tumoral response and toxicity also were evaluated.


RESULTS
19 men (median age 68 years), were treated. Overall, 42% of patients achieved a KPS significant change and positive pain response; 47% achieved a 50% or greater reduction in PSA. The objective response rate was observed in 2 of 9 patients with measurable disease (22%). The most important toxicity was neutropenia (Grade 3 = 32%).


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of weekly VIN-DOX appears to be feasible. VIN-DOX was found to be associated with improvement in clinical benefit response and biochemical response and well tolerated as first line treatment in HRPC.
Di Lorenzo
Giuseppe
G
Cattedra di Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Molecolare e Clinica, Università degli Studi Federico II, Naples, Italy. giuseppedilorenzoncol@hotmail.com
Pizza
Carmine
C
Autorino
Riccardo
R
De Laurentiis
Michele
M
Marano
Ombretta
O
D'Alessio
Adele
A
Cancello
Giuseppe
G
Altieri
Vincenzo
V
Tortora
Giampaolo
G
Perdonà
Sisto
S
Bianco
Angelo Raffaele
AR
De Placido
Sabino
S
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine
D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine