Three-weekly docetaxel with prednisone is feasible for Japanese patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer: a retrospective comparative study with weekly docetaxel alone.
BACKGROUND
We previously reported that weekly treatment with docetaxel alone is useful for and well tolerated by patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). Here, we compare it with the regimen of docetaxel once every 3 weeks (q3w) plus daily prednisone (PSL) based on a TAX 327 trial in order to clarify the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel regimens in Japan.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients with HRPC were treated with docetaxel weekly (regimen 1) or docetaxel q3w plus PSL daily (regimen 2) at Tsukuba University Hospital and the changes in serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA), tumor size and survival were evaluated. The dose of docetaxel in regimen 1 was based on our previous report and that of regimen 2 was modified from a TAX 327 trial.


RESULTS
A >50% decrease in PSA was observed in 53% of the patients with a median time to progression of 3.5 months and 69% with 8.5 months with regimens 1 and 2, respectively. Patients who received regimen 2 had a significantly better survival rate than those who received regimen 1. Myelosuppression and neuropathy were statistically more frequent in regimen 2 than in regimen 1.


CONCLUSIONS
A regimen of docetaxel q3w with PSL daily was associated with a high rate of PSA reduction and prolongation of patient survival. Although docetaxel has not been approved in Japan yet, this treatment is considered feasible for Japanese patients with HRPC.
Department of Urology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. torushim@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
Toru
T
Shimazui
Koji
K
Kawai
Naoto
N
Miyanaga
Takahiro
T
Kojima
Noritoshi
N
Sekido
Shiro
S
Hinotsu
Takehiro
T
Oikawa
Akira
A
Joraku
Hideyuki
H
Akaza
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D011241:Prednisone