title: Oral estramustine plus oral etoposide in the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer patients: a phase II study with a 5-year follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chemotherapy regimens that target microtubular trafficking were repeatedly found to be active in the treatment of hormone refractory prostate cancer patients, but disease responses were reportedly short-lived on average.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1994 to 1997, 46 consecutive patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer were enrolled in a multicenter Phase II trial of oral etoposide 100 mg/day and estramustine 560 mg/day for 21 days, followed by a 7-day rest period. Final evaluation of this trial was performed after a follow-up of 5 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-four percent of patients attained a PSA response and 46% attained a response on measurable lesions. Median time to progression (TTP) and overall survival were 7.4 and 18.4 months, respectively. Fourteen patients (30.4%) had a TTP greater than 12 months and 9 (19.5%) a TTP greater than 18 months. Sixteen patients (34.8.%) survived more than 2 years and 2 (4.3%) survived more than 5 years. One patient was still alive and free from progression more than 7 years after starting treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This Phase II trial with a long-term follow-up revealed that some patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer could obtain durable disease response and long survival with an oral etoposide and estramustine combination regimen.
authors.affiliation: Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Scienze, Cliniche e Biologiche, Università di Torino, Azienda Ospedaliera San Luigi, Orbassano, Italy.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berruti
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fara
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tarabuzzi
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mosca
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terrone
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gorzegno
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fasolis
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tampellini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Porpiglia
authors.forename: Marinella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Stefanis
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bertetto
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dogliotti
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004961:Estramustine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004961:Estramustine; D005047:Etoposide; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen