Palliative chemotherapy with trofosfamide in advanced prostate cancer.
BACKGROUND
A phase II study with trofosfamide in hormone-refractory prostate cancer was conducted to test the palliative efficacy.


METHODS
Twenty patients suffering from advanced prostate cancer were treated with per os trofosfamide after progression on androgen ablation and/or estramustine. The mean age was 72 years. The patients were treated with 150 mg/day as continuous treatment. The treatment was continued until progressive disease or severe toxicity.


RESULTS
A decline in the prostate specific antigen (PSA) level was observed in 5 patients (27%) with a 0-25% decline in 2 patients and a >50% decline in 3 patients (16%, 95% confidence interval 3.4-39.6). There were no clinical or radiological complete (CR) or partial (PR) responses in 19 evaluable patients. Some toxicity was observed: 15 patients developed anaemia and grade 2-4 adverse effects were observed in 16 patients. One patient died of cardiac event.


CONCLUSIONS
Trofosfamide has some activity in hormone-refractory advanced prostate cancer. When used in fragile or heavily pre-treated patients, careful monitoring for haematological and cardiac effects is recommended.
Salminen
E K
EK
Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Turku University Hospital, Finland. eevsal@utu.fi
Sundström
J
J
Nikkanen
V
V
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; C003726:trofosfamide