Estramustine plus docetaxel as second-line therapy in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer resistant to docetaxel alone.
OBJECTIVE
Although docetaxel (DOC) plus prednisone is currently the treatment of choice for hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC), no standard therapy is available for those patients who progress during DOC treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of estramustine (E) can overcome DOC resistance.


METHODS
Patients who had not responded to DOC in a previous randomised phase II trial received a one-hour intravenous infusion of DOC 70 mg/m(2) on day 2 in combination with oral E 840 mg/day divided into three daily administrations on days 1-5. The primary endpoint was a >50% decrease in PSA; the secondary endpoints were biochemical progression-free survival, overall survival, the objective response rate, and toxicity.


RESULTS
A biochemical response was observed in 52% of the 25 patients evaluable for response. The only grade 4 event was a cerebral stroke that occurred a few days after the administration of the first treatment course. Treatment discontinuation due to worsened compliance was observed in the patients who received a higher cumulative number of courses.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that the addition of E may be useful in selected HRPC patients resistant to DOC alone.
Medical Oncology Department, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy. orazio.caffo@apss.tn.it
Orazio
O
Caffo
Teodoro
T
Sava
Evi
E
Comploj
Maria Anna
MA
Giampaolo
Romana
R
Segati
Francesco
F
Valduga
Gianluigi
G
Cetto
Enzo
E
Galligioni
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017322:Clinical Trials, Phase II as Topic; D000077143:Docetaxel; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects*; D004961:Estramustine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004961:Estramustine; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen