title: Docetaxel in hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer.
abstract: The taxoid analogue docetaxel is a potent inhibitor of microtubular depolymerisation and, in hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer, it also counters the effects of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Overall survival was significantly increased in patients with hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer receiving intravenous docetaxel every 3 weeks plus oral prednisone or estramustine, compared with patients receiving intravenous mitoxantrone every 3 weeks plus prednisone in two large phase III trials (TAX 327 and SWOG [Southwest Oncology Group] 9916). In the TAX 327 study, patients receiving docetaxel 75 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks plus prednisone had a median overall survival duration of 18.9 months; in the SWOG 9916 study, median overall survival duration was 17.5 months with docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks plus estramustine 280 mg three times daily on days 1-5. The median overall survival duration for the control arm of mitoxantrone 12 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks plus prednisone was 16-17 months. Compared with mitoxantrone plus prednisone, docetaxel plus prednisone improved prostate specific antigen response rate, pain and health-related quality of life, and docetaxel plus estramustine increased progression-free survival. Adverse events were more common with docetaxel- than mitoxantrone-based treatment regimens, but most events associated with docetaxel were mild-to-moderate in severity.
authors.affiliation: Adis International Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McKeage
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Keam
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000077143:Docetaxel; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel