Docetaxel-prednisolone combination therapy for Japanese patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer: a single institution experience.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of docetaxel plus prednisolone treatment in Japanese patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).


METHODS
From April 2004 through August 2008, we used docetaxel plus prednisolone to treat 55 HRPC patients (median age, 72 years). Eighteen patients (32.7%) had measurable soft tissue lesions, whereas 52 patients (94.5%) had bone metastases. During the 21-day treatment cycle, docetaxel (70 mg/m(2)) was administered once every 21 days and oral prednisolone (5 mg), twice daily. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, defined as a reduction of at least 50% in the baseline levels for 4 weeks, was evaluated.


RESULTS
The median follow-up period was 30.1 months; median overall survival, 15.3 months and median progression-free survival, 7.5 months. During follow-up, 37 patients (67.3%) achieved the PSA response, and 5 of 18 (27.8%) patients with measurable disease showed a partial response. Among the 27 patients who experienced cancer pain before treatment initiation, 15 (55.5%) reduced their analgesic drug intake. Multivariate analysis of the prognostic variables revealed a significant association between the overall survival and pain (P = 0.033). Hematological toxicity (grades 3-4) included neutropenia (87.3%), febrile neutropenia (25.5%) and thrombocytopenia (5.5%). Frequent non-hematological adverse events were general edema (52.7%), general fatigue (32.7%) and sensory neuropathy (30.9%). Three patients died of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).


CONCLUSIONS
Docetaxel plus prednisolone treatment is effective in Japanese HRPC patients. The main toxicity is neutropenia, which can be safely controlled by outpatient treatment with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. However, the Japanese patients in our study developed ARDS more frequently than other patients in previous studies did.
Miura
Noriyoshi
N
Department of Urology, National Hospital Organization Shikoku Cancer Center, Matsuyama, Japan. nmiura@m.ehime-u.ac.jp
Numata
Kosaku
K
Kusuhara
Yoshito
Y
Shirato
Akitomi
A
Hashine
Katsuyoshi
K
Sumiyoshi
Yoshiteru
Y
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D000077143:Docetaxel; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D011239:Prednisolone