title: Determine of the optimal number of cycles of docetaxel in the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer.
abstract: To determine the optimal number of cycles of docetaxel for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, we retrospectively collected 73 patients receiving varying numbers of docetaxel plus prednisolone and analyzed the clinical outcomes including overall survival, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, and adverse events. The study included 33 patients receiving ≤ 10 cycles of docetaxel and 40 patients receiving > 10 cycles. Patients receiving > 10 cycles were younger than those who received ≤ 10 cycles. There was no statistical significant difference in overall survival between the two groups (log-rank test, p = 0.75). Adverse effects were more common among patients receiving ≥ 10 cycles of treatment. A PSA flare-up was observed among six patients (8.2%); the median duration of the PSA surge was 3 weeks (range, 3-12 weeks). The overall survival rates in patients with PSA flare-up were comparable with the patients having PSA response. We concluded that at least four cycles of docetaxel should be administered in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients in order not to cease treatment prematurely from potentially beneficial chemotherapy. However, administering > 10 cycles does not result in any further improvement in survival and is associated with more adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yuan-Chi
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: cphtem@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Po-Hui
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Chiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hao-Lun
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yao-Chi
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yen-Ta
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chih-Hsiung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chun-Chien
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Wei-Ching
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Yuan-Tso
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000077143:Docetaxel; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D064129:Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant / Q000188:drug therapy*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen
keywords: Chemotherapy; Docetaxel; Flare-up phenomenon; Metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer