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“First Evidence That Chemotherapy Extends Life in Advanced Prostate Cancer”
Daniel Petrylak, M.D. of Columbia University, et al.
Conducted by numerous cooperative
groups, this study evaluated 770 men with advanced
prostate cancer that were no longer
responding to hormone therapy. At random the patients
were given chemotherapy
regimens with the drugs docetaxel
and estramustine
or with prednisone
and mitoxantrone.
After approximately 32 months physicians followed -up
with their participants. Those patients who received
docetaxel and estramustine lived for about 18 months
and those who were treated with prednisone and mitoxantrone
lived for about 16 months. In patients treated with
docetaxel and estramustine the progression of their
cancer was delayed for twice as long. Also their prostate
specific antigen level decreased more in patients treated
with docetaxel and estramustine. However, patients that
underwent docetaxel and estramustine chemotherapy did
report more frequent severe side effects including stomach
and heart problems.
“Combination of Cancer Drugs Increases Survival Rate of Some Prostate Cancer Patients: New Research Shows”
Derek Raghavan, M.D. (director of the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center, and one of the leaders of the Genitourinary Committee of the Southwest Oncology Group), et al.
This study evaluated 770 men with
advanced, hormone
refractory prostate cancer. Of the
participants, 386 received a combination of docetaxel
and estramustine, and 384 received mitoxantrone and
prednisone. The results showed that those who were treated
with docetaxel and estramustine had a longer survival
rate of 17.5 months compared with 15.6 months for patients
treated with mitoxantrone and prednisone. Those who
received docetaxel and estramustine experienced a 50%
decline in their PSA level compared with a 27% decline
for patients who received mitoxantrone and prednisone.
Patients in both groups reported similar pain relief
following treatment. Those given docetaxel and estramustine
experienced moderate levels of fever, gastrointestinal,
and cardiac side effects more frequently than those
who were treated with mitoxantrone and prednisone.
“Docetaxel plus Prednisone or Mitoxantrone plus Prednisone for Advanced Prostate Cancer”
Mario Eisenberger M.D. (R. Dale Hughes Professor of Oncology at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center) Dr. Ian Tannock of Princess Margaret Hospital (senior scientist with Ontario Cancer Institute and professor with the University of Toronto), et al.
With the involvement of this study
involved 24 countries tracked more than 1,006 patients
with advanced prostate cancer who failed to respond
well to hormone therapy. At random patients were divided
into three groups: one group received the standard chemotherapy
with mitoxantrone, and the other two groups received
docetaxel either every three weeks or weekly. All three
groups received low daily doses of prednisone. After
comparing all three groups it was shown that men who
received docetaxel administered every three weeks saw
an improved survival
rate by an average of 3 months. However those who
received docetaxel weekly and those receiving mitoxantrone
had no significant difference in their survival rate.
“Study Shows Benefits of Adding High-Dose Vitamin D to Chemotherapy for Advanced Prostate Cancer: Presented at ASCO”
Tomasz Beer M.D., an oncologist at the Oregon Health and Science University Cancer Institute in Portland Oregon, et al.
This study evaluated 37 men with
hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Patients in the
study received oral calcitriol (or active vitamin D),
on the first day of the treatment cycle, followed by
an infusion of docetaxel on the following day. This
treatment was repeated weekly for six weeks. The results
of this trial found that the docetaxel/calcitriol combination
was twice as effective as docetaxel alone. The study
revealed that 81% of patients treated with the combination
regimen reduced their PSA
levels by more than half. In addition
to PSA response, eight out of 15 men with measurable
prostate cancer experienced reductions in their tumors.
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