[Effects of docetaxel and prednisone for hormone-refractory prostate cancer].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role and side effects of docetaxel and prednisone on treating hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).


METHODS
Docetaxel (75 mg/m(2)) and prednisone (5 mg, bid) were given to 14 patients, whose age range from 51 to 78 years old, of hormone-refractory prostate cancer for 3 - 8 cycles. Three-week is a chemotherapy cycle. Comparing the prostate specific antigen (PSA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), pain score, Karnofsky performance status, bone scan, lymph node size before and after chemotherapy.


RESULTS
100 - 140 milligram docetaxel were given for each cycle, 1-8 cycles were experienced. The responses of PSA: excellence-5 cases, utility-3 cases, uselessness-6 cases, PSA response ratio was 57.1%. Among 6 N(1) cases, lymph nodes diminished in 2 cases and enlarged in 1 case after chemotherapy. Bone scan has improved in 2 cases, and no differences in other cases. Pain scores were decreased from 0 to 6, and the average Karnofsky performance status was increased by 4%. The common adverse events were myelosuppression, alopecia, fatigue, nail changes, phlebitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Docetaxel plus prednisone for the treatment of HRPC can delay the progression of the disease, decrease the PSA value, diminish the lymph node, ease the pain, improve the quality of live, and the tolerance is quite good.
Fan
Xin-rong
XR
Department of Urology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Li
Han-zhong
HZ
Shi
Bing-bing
BB
Ji
Zhi-gang
ZG
Xia
Ming
M
Xiao
He
H
Yan
Wei-gang
WG
Zhou
Yi
Y
D000368:Aged; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017567:Karnofsky Performance Status; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*