Evaluation of docetaxel plus estramustine in the treatment of patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of docetaxel-based chemotherapy in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).


METHODS
Forty-six consecutive HRPC patients treated between January 2003 and March 2008 were included in this analysis. Docetaxel was given at a dose of 35 mg/m(2) twice every 3 weeks and oral estramustine concurrently for three consecutive days during weeks 1 and 2 of each cycle. During each treatment week, the dose of estramustine was 1260 mg on the first day, 980 mg on the second day and 840 mg on the third day. Patients were premedicated with 4 mg twice a day of oral dexamethasone for three consecutive days. Treatment was continued until evidence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were evaluated at least once every 4 weeks.


RESULTS
Patients received a median of three cycles of chemotherapy. Of the evaluable 46 patients, 25 (54%) had a >or=50% PSA decline and 12 (26%) had a >or=75% PSA decline. Median time to PSA progression and overall survival time were 10.1 and 27.0 months, respectively. Median follow-up was 15.0 months. Major severe toxicities were grade 3 or 4 leukopenia in five (11%) patients. Mild toxicities included grade 1 or 2 nausea in eight (17%) patients. Two patients could not continue the treatment because of interstitial pneumonitis and a gastric hemorrhage, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Docetaxel plus estramustine chemotherapy represents an active and well tolerated treatment for Japanese HRPC patients.
Matsumoto
Akihiro
A
Department of Urology, Yokohama Rosai Hospital, Kouhoku-ku,Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa, Japan. akihi0826@yahoo.co.jp
Inoue
Atsushi
A
Yokoi
Satoshi
S
Nozumi
Kazuyoshi
K
Miyazaki
Kanetaka
K
Hosoki
Shigeru
S
Nagata
Maki
M
Yamaguchi
Kunio
K
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004961:Estramustine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009919:Orchiectomy; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017211:Treatment Failure
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004961:Estramustine