title: Weekly high-dose calcitriol and docetaxel in patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer previously exposed to docetaxel.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the activity and tolerability of weekly high-dose calcitriol and docetaxel in patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) previously exposed to docetaxel, as patients who progress after docetaxel treatment might be considered for second-line chemotherapy, but with no standard salvage therapy available we hypothesised that high-dose calcitriol might restore sensitivity to chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised 26 patients who had progressed after first-line treatment with docetaxel-based chemotherapy had failed. Treatment cycles consisted of calcitriol (32 microg orally as 0.5 microg tablets) on day 1 and docetaxel (30 mg/m(2) intravenous) on day 2, administered for six consecutive weeks followed by a 2-week rest interval for a maximum of 24 cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a response in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level in eight patients (31%); seven (27%) had a stable PSA level for >/= 12 weeks. The median time to PSA progression was 4.2 months and the median survival was 9.3 months. The regimen was generally well tolerated; there was grade 2 hypercalcaemia, probably related to calcitriol, in one patient after six treatment cycles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Weekly high-dose calcitriol and docetaxel seems to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment option for patients with metastatic HRPC previously exposed to docetaxel-based chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, Medical Oncology Section, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. r.petrioli@ao-siena.toscana.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Petrioli
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pascucci
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Francini
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marsili
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sciandivasci
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Rubertis
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barbanti
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Manganelli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salvestrini
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Francini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018450:Disease Progression; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D002117:Calcitriol