Second-line chemotherapy for prostate cancer: patient characteristics and survival.
OBJECTIVE
First-line chemotherapy with docetaxel in patients with progressive castrate metastatic prostate cancer has been shown to improve overall survival compared with mitoxantrone-based therapies. The use and outcomes of chemotherapy after first-line antimicrotubule-based therapy have not been well described.


METHODS
Patients with progressive castrate metastatic prostate cancer enrolled on an antimicrotubule-based protocol for treatment were followed to determine their baseline characteristics and outcomes with second- or third-line systemic therapy.


RESULTS
Of 108 patients treated with antimicrotubule-based therapy, 81% received second-line therapy, and 40% received third-line therapies. Corresponding prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decreases > or = 50% were observed in 72%, 15%, and 22% of patients. Median survival times from the start of first-, second-, and third-line therapy were 21 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 18-25 months), 13 months (95% CI, 10-15 months) and 12 months (95% CI, 9-19 months). Significant prognostic indicators for survival in the second-line setting include pretreatment PSA level, alkaline phosphatase level, and performance status. Patients not fit to receive second-line therapy were more symptomatic with first-line therapy, as illustrated by a greater need for narcotic therapy (67% vs. 15%) and palliative radiation therapy after first-line therapy (57% vs. 10%) in lieu of second-line systemic therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Eighty percent of patients received second-line chemotherapy, with a median survival of 12 months from the start of second-line treatment. Although only 40% received third-line chemotherapy, median survival was similar to that of patients in the second-line setting. Our data show that patients who initiate chemotherapy with symptoms are more likely to require palliative radiation therapy rather than chemotherapy as second-line therapy. A sequential or continuous administration of therapy may optimize the care of this subset of symptomatic patients.
Beekman
Kathleen W
KW
Genitourinary Oncology Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
Fleming
Mark T
MT
Scher
Howard I
HI
Slovin
Susan F
SF
Ishill
Nicole M
NM
Heller
Glenn
G
Kelly
W Kevin
WK
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D019233:Retreatment; D017414:Ribonucleoprotein, U4-U6 Small Nuclear; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
C093543:LSM4 protein, S cerevisiae; D017414:Ribonucleoprotein, U4-U6 Small Nuclear; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins