title: High-dose calcitriol, docetaxel and zoledronic acid in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer: a phase II study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Docetaxel has become the standard chemotherapy for patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). We wanted to assess the efficacy and safety of a weekly high-dose calcitriol, docetaxel and zoledronic acid combination in CRPC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty patients were enrolled to receive calcitriol 0.5 µg/kg orally in 4 divided doses over 4 h on day 1 of each treatment week, docetaxel 36 mg/m(2) i.v. infusion on day 2 of each treatment week and zoledronic acid 4 mg i.v. on day 2 of the first and fifth week of each cycle. Treatment was administered weekly for 6 consecutive weeks on an 8-week cycle.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 23 evaluable patients, there was a response of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in 11 patients (47.8%); 6 (26.1%) had a stable PSA level for a median of 4.2 months. The median survival time was 15 months (95% confidence interval 13.9-16.1 months). The regimen was generally tolerated; anemia was the only grade 3/4 hematological toxicity in 2 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This regimen was tolerated, and half of the patients had a PSA response. Although our response rates are inferior to some studies using docetaxel, we believe our response rates are acceptable knowing that we are treating CRPC, which still has variable outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. as04 @ aub.edu.lb
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shamseddine
authors.forename: Fadi S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Farhat
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: Raja B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Khauli
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saleh
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bulbul
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007610:Kallikreins / Q000097:blood; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009919:Orchiectomy; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid
chemical_list: D004164:Diphosphonates; D007093:Imidazoles; D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D000077211:Zoledronic Acid; C549870:KLK3 protein, human; D007610:Kallikreins; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D002117:Calcitriol