Indian Journal of Urology (Jan 2003)
Monotherapy with docetaxel in treatment of hormone resistant cancer of the prostate - our results
Abstract
Objectives: Management of hormone resistant prostate cancer (HRCaP) is always a challenge to urologist. Mi-crotubule inhibitors have been in focus as chemothera-peutic agents in carcinoma prostate, docetaxel being the most active among such drugs. The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of docetaxel as a single agent in the management of HRCaP. Methods: Twenty patients of HRCaP between 58-82 years of age were enrolled to receive docetaxel 75mg/sq.m. intravenously every 3′d week with a minimum 6 dose sched-ule. A total number of 136 doses were used. All patients were D3 stage disease and symptomatic. Median prostate specific antigen (PSA) at the time of entry was 180ng/ml and the median follow up was for 28 months. Results: An objective response in PSA reduction by = 80% was observed in 5 patients (25%) and more than 25% reduction seen in 12 patients (60%). Seventy percent of the patients showed improvement in symptoms on treat-ment. In 12 patients (60%), the disease was stable and showed response for a median period of 18 months. The median overall survival was 22 months. Adverse reaction in the form of anaemia, neutropenia, leucopenia was seen in 20 patients (100%), stomatitis, fever and alopecia was seen in 12 patients (60%). Four developed oral thrush (20%). Mortality occurred in 5 patients (25%) during the study, 2 died from pulmonary metastasis and 3 had cer-ebral metastasis with paraplegia. Conclusions: The response seen in this study is very encouraging and suggests substantial durable activity of docetaxel as a single therapy in HRCaP
