The current role of chemotherapy in metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer.
Since the publication of the Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) 99-16 and TAX 327 studies, which demonstrated a survival benefit for docetaxel-based therapy, clinicians for the first time have a therapy to offer men with metastatic prostate cancer that is not merely palliative in its effects. Phase 2 and phase 3 trials are now building on the findings of SWOG 99-16 and TAX 327 by evaluating the potential of combination taxane-based therapies, such as docetaxel plus high-dose calcitriol, docetaxel-estramustine-bevacizumab, and docetaxel-thalidomide. The optimal timing of docetaxel-based chemotherapy is still unknown, as there are no prospective clinical trial data to indicate whether earlier treatment (eg, at the time of prostate-specific antigen failure) is more or less effective than later treatment (eg, in metastatic and/or symptomatic disease).
Petrylak
Daniel P
DP
Columbia University Medical Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York 10032-3788, USA. dpp5@columbia.edu
D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017321:Clinical Trials, Phase I as Topic; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004961:Estramustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004961:Estramustine; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D017239:Paclitaxel