title: Efficacy and safety of docetaxel plus prednisolone chemotherapy for metastatic hormone-refractory prostate adenocarcinoma: single institutional study in Korea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy and safety of treating Korean patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) using docetaxel plus prednisolone chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective cohort study performed in 98 patients with metastatic HRPC between October 2003 and April 2008. After screening, 72 patients fit the eligibility criteria for inclusion in this study. Treatment consisted of 5 mg prednisolone twice daily and 75 mg/m² docetaxel once every 3 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient demographic characteristics included: median age 67 years (range, 51~86), median ECOG performance status 1 (0~2), Gleason score ≥8 in 61 patients (86%), and median serum PSA 45.5 ng/mL (range, 3.7~2,420.0). A total of 405 cycles of treatment were administered with a median 6 cycles (range, 1~20) per patient. The median docetaxel dose-intensity was 24.4 mg/m(2)/week (range, 17.5~25.6). A PSA response was seen in 51% of 63 evaluable patients at 12 weeks and maximal PSA decline ≥50% in 59% of 70 evaluable patients. Tumor response was evaluated in 13 patients, 4 patients achieved PR, and 5 patients had SD with a response rate of 31%. With a median follow-up duration of 23.1 months (95%CI, 16.7~29.5), the median time to PSA progression was 5.1 months (95%CI, 4.5~5.8) and median overall survival was 22.8 months (95%CI, 16.6~29.1). Nine (13%) patients experienced grade 3 or higher febrile neutropenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This chemotherapy regimen (docetaxel every 3 weeks plus prednisolone daily) demonstrated a strong response in Korean patients with metastatic HRPC, while the toxicity profile was manageable and similar to that observed in Western patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jaelyun@amc.seoul.kr
authors.forename: Jae-Lyun
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jeong Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Dae-Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jungshin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Choung-Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jun Hyuk
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Bumsik
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Cheryn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Hanjong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahn