A systematic review of the effectiveness of docetaxel and mitoxantrone for the treatment of metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer

A systematic review was performed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of docetaxel in combination with prednisolone (docetaxel is licensed in the UK for use in combination with prednisone or prednisolone for the treatment of patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Prednisone is not used in the UK, but it is reasonable to use docetaxel plus prednisone data in this review of docetaxel plus prednisolone) for the treatment of metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer. A scoping search identified a trial of docetaxel plus prednisone vs mitoxantrone plus prednisone, but did not identify any trials comparing docetaxel plus prednisolone/prednisone with any other treatments. Therefore, we considered additional indirect evidence that would enable a comparison of docetaxel plus prednisolone/prednisone with other chemotherapy regimens and active supportive care. Systematic searching (upto April 2005) identified seven randomised controlled trials. One large well-conducted trial assessed docetaxel plus prednisone vs mitoxantrone plus prednisone; this showed statistically significant improvements with 3-weekly docetaxel in terms of overall survival, quality of life, pain response and PSA decline. Two other chemotherapy regimens that included docetaxel with estramustine also showed improved outcomes in comparison with mitoxantrone plus prednisone. Three trials that compared mitoxantrone plus corticosteroids with corticosteroids alone were identified and their results for overall survival combined, which showed very little difference between the two groups. The addition of clodronate to mitoxantrone plus prednisone showed no significant differences in comparison with mitoxantrone plus prednisone alone. The evidence suggests that chemotherapy regimens containing 3-weekly docetaxel are superior to mitoxantrone or corticosteroids alone.     

多西他赛加泼尼松3周方案失败后联合雌二醇氮芥治疗激素难治性前列腺癌

目的激素难治性前列腺癌（ hormone refractory prostate cancer, HRPC）的治疗，在2004年取得了突破性进展，TAX327研究证实多西他赛联合泼尼松3wk方案可以延长病人的生存期，从而确立了其一线标准化疗方案的地位。但是，多西他赛联合泼尼松方案失败后的治疗选择仍然是一难题，为此，我们观察多西他赛联合雌二醇氮芥及泼尼松三联方案在一线标准方案失败后治疗HRPC的疗效和安全性。方法2005年11月至2007年3月，6例HRPC在多西他赛联合泼尼松3wk方案治疗过程中病情恶化（血PSA升高）时，用多西他赛联合雌二醇氮芥及泼尼松治疗。治疗方案：多西他赛75mg／m^2，d1，强的松5mg bid，d1起连续应用，雌二醇氮芥280mg，2次，d，d1起连用5d。21d为1疗程。病人平均年龄75．8a，血睾酮维持去势水平，WHO体力状态评分≤2，骨髓、心、肝、肾等重要脏器功能正常。估计生存时间〉3mo。疗效及不良反应判断标准：①血PSA下降〉50％，且维持〉3wk判断为有效。②可测量病灶按RECIST实体瘤评价标准评价。③骨痛者按主诉疼痛程度分级法（VRS）评价，评分下降1级为有效。④不良反应按WHO不良反应标准评定。结果6例共完成27个疗程。PSA有效5例，有效率为83.3％。有效病人PSA从治疗前的10．9～606．2（223．6±218．0）mg／mL下降到治疗后最低1．1～127．6（61．5±50．4）ng／mL。1例肺转移者，转移灶为稳定。1例骨痛者VRS疼痛评分从Ⅱ下降到Ⅰ。到分析日止，已死亡1例。此例从诊断激素非依赖前列腺癌到死亡共53mo。5例存活者从诊断激素非依赖前列腺癌起已存活14～36mo。主要不良反应为骨髓抑制（100％），脱发（100％），乏力（67％）等。结论多西他赛联合雌二醇氮芥及泼尼松三联方案对多西他赛联合泼尼松3wk方案治疗失败后的病人疗效肯定，毒副反应可以耐受，值得进一步观察?     

A case of hormone/docetaxel-refractory prostate cancer in which PSA level decreased after docetaxel+zoledronic acid treatment

The patient was a 63-year-old man who had a recurrence and bone metastasis of prostate cancer after total prostatectomy. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer refractory to hormones. Subsequently, the PSA level decreased after docetaxel therapy, but then gradually increased. Thus, he was diagnosed with bone metastasis of prostate cancer refractory to therapy with hormones or docetaxel. The PSA level decreased after the start of therapy with docetaxel+ zoledronic acid. Zoledronic acid seems to be effective not only for the prevention but also for the treatment of skeletal related events(SRE)in patients with prostate cancer with bone metastases.     

A Case of Bilateral Adrenal and Pleural Metastases from Prostate Cancer

Our case was 65 years old. At check-up, a high PSA level of 515 ng/ml was observed, the patient was diagnosed with having clinical stage D prostate cancer and a Maximum Androgen Blockade (MAB therapy) was started. In response to the exacerbated prostate cancer, we started a therapy involving the administration of 8 mg/kg body weight of dexamethasone and 55 mg/m² of docetaxel every 3 weeks. After completing 8 courses, an enlargement of the bilateral adrenal tumor was observed, and after completing 12 courses, a pleural tumor was discovered and the PSA level was also increased. The patient was therefore diagnosed with having bilateral adrenal metastasis and pleural metastasis of prostate cancer through diagnostic imaging. So far, there have been no reports of multiple occurrences of prostate cancer in the adrenal glands and the pleura, thus making this case the first such case.Key Words: Prostate cancer, Adrenal metastasis, Pleural metastases     

Cabazitaxel: filling one of the gaps in the treatment of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and the fifth most common cancer overall. Globally, more than 900,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in 2010 and more than 260,000 will, unfortunately, die from the disease. In the US, an estimated 217,000 new cases of prostate cancer and 32,000 deaths are expected this year. Definitive therapy (surgery or radiation) is highly effective, but if the tumor escapes the gland, treatment options are limited. For this population of patients, androgen suppression is the cornerstone of initial therapy. Furthermore, progression to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is inevitable. The current front-line treatment for patients with CRPC is the chemotherapeutic agent docetaxel (administered every 3 weeks). Until now, it is the only agent that has been shown to prolong survival in CRPC. The approval trial for docetaxel found a median overall survival of 19.2 months for patients receiving docetaxel plus prednisone compared to 16.3 months for patients receiving mitoxantrone plus prednisone (p=0.0094). Mitoxantrone plus prednisone is often utilized for its palliative benefits, but two randomized trials failed to demonstrate a survival advantage.     

A case of peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer successfully treated by irinotecan combined with cisplatin

We report a case of a 59-year-old man with advanced gastric cancer. Distal gastrectomy with lymph node dissection (D1) was performed. Pathological staging was IV (T3N1CY1), and the operation resulted in curability C. The serum CA19-9 level before the operation was 201 U/ml, and it did not normalize 3 months after the operation. Postoperative chemotherapy (TS-1, 100 mg/day) was performed. Because the tumor markers such as CEA and CA19-9 level elevated 5 months after the operation, triweekly docetaxel therapy and TS-1 administration (days 1-14) were performed. We disbontinued this therapy after 2 courses due to adverse reactions, such as leukopenia (grade 4) and liver dysfunction (grade 2). Peritoneal dissemination was diagnosed by the appearance of ascites and thickness of the peritoneum 11 months after the operation. So the patient was treated with a biweekly combination chemotherapy of irinotecan (CPT-11 60 mg/m2) and cisplatin (CDDP 30 mg/m2). Eight courses of this therapy induced partial remission and normalization of the serum CEA level. No major adverse reaction to this therapy was observed. The partial remission and good patient's QOL were achieved during follow-up 7 months after the administration of CPT-11 plus CDDP. This case suggests that patients with recurrent peritoneal dissemination of gastric cancer could benefit from CPT-11 with CDDP combination therapy as a second-line or third-line treatment.     

Safety and Efficacy of Maintenance Therapy With a Nonspecific Cytochrome P17 Inhibitor (CYP17i) After Response/Stabilization to Docetaxel in Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

BackgroundFrontline treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) consists of docetaxel-based chemotherapy. The median time to progression (TTP) from chemotherapy initiation is 6 to 8 months. Ketoconazole, a nonspecific cytochrome P17 inhibitor (CYP17i), blocks adrenal androgen synthesis. Low-dose ketoconazole (LDK), (200 mg three times daily [t.d.s]) has shown activity in mCRPC after progression to androgen deprivation. The role of a CYP17i after docetaxel treatment in the maintenance setting has been unexplored.MethodsWe identified 38 patients with mCRPC who showed progression to luteinizing hormone releasing–hormone agonists (LHRHa) and who were treated with a median of 7 cycles of frontline three-weekly docetaxel (75 mg/m²) plus prednisone (10 mg/d) and LHRHa. Medical charts of 20 patients who showed no progression to docetaxel were reviewed. After the last docetaxel cycle, 10 patients received LDK maintenance treatment plus prednisone (10 mg/d) and LHRHa, whereas 10 patients received LHRHa alone. TTP was the primary endpoint.ResultsAfter a follow-up of 27 months, disease in all patients receiving LHRHa alone progressed, whereas 8/10 patients progressed to maintenance therapy. Median TTP from docetaxel initiation was 11.5 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.3-16.6) for maintenance therapy and 9.2 months (95% CI, 8.5-9.9) for LHRHa alone (P = .047). The maintenance treatment was well tolerated. Only 1 patient experienced a grade 4 adverse event due to a nonsymptomatic pulmonary embolism.ConclusionThis is the first study evaluating a CYP17i for maintenance therapy after docetaxel therapy. We showed a 2-month significant benefit in TTP for patients with mCRPC treated with LDK maintenance therapy after docetaxel, with a favorable toxicity profile. A large prospective randomized study using a CYP17i is warranted.     

Weekly docetaxel/estramustine phosphate in patients with increasing serum prostate- specific antigen levels after primary treatment for prostate cancer: a phase II trial of the Minnie Pearl Cancer Research Network

Purpose

Docetaxel alone or in combination with estramustine prolongs survival in patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer. The role of chemotherapy is undefined in the treatment of patients who develop an increasing serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level after primary therapy but have no detectable metastases. This phase II study was performed as a preliminary evaluation of the feasibility and efficacy of weekly docetaxel/estramustine in patients with prostate cancer and increasing serum PSA levels.

Patients and Methods

Between March 2001 and September 2003, 34 patients entered this phase II trial. All patients had biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate and had increasing PSA levels but no clinically or radiographically detected metastases after primary therapy. All patients received docetaxel 35 mg/m² intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 and estramustine phosphate 140 mg 3 times daily for 7 doses, beginning the evening before each dose of docetaxel. Treatment courses were repeated at 28-day intervals, and responding patients received a total of 6 courses.

Results

Thirty-one patients (91%) completed 6 courses of treatment. Thirty-two of 33 evaluable patients (97%) had a decrease in serum PSA level of > 50% during treatment, and 27 patients (82%) had normalization of serum PSA level. The median progression-free survival was 28 months, with 33% of patients progression free at 3 years. This treatment regimen was well tolerated with no myelosuppression-related complications or uncommon grade 3 nonhematologic toxicity.

Conclusion

Treatment with weekly docetaxel and estramustine is feasible and active in patients with prostate cancer and increasing serum PSA levels. However, the benefit of early treatment versus treatment when clinical metastases are detected requires demonstration in a randomized phase III trial.     

激素抵抗性前列腺癌的治疗进展

多西他赛联合泼尼松的3周治疗方案是激素抵抗性前列腺癌的首选一线化疗方案.近年来许多临床研究着重于研究抗肿瘤血管生成联合多西他赛为基础的治疗方案能否进一步提高疗效、新一代抗雄激素治疗以及多西他赛化疗失败后的解救治疗.对于激素抵抗性前列腺癌,阿比特龙可为首选,Enzalutamide可作为多西他赛耐受后的另一内分泌治疗选择,而化疗联合靶向药物仍然无法挑战多西他赛联合泼尼松的一线治疗地位.     

A case of recurrent gastric cancer tolerant to TS-1 therapy successfully treated by TS-1 combined with docetaxel

We report a case of a 58-year-old man with advanced gastric cancer producing sialyl-Tn antigen (STN). Total gastrectomy with distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy was performed. Pathological staging was IV (T 3 N 2 CY1), and most of the cancer cells were strongly positive for anti-STN antibody on immunohistochemical stainings. Serum STN level before the operation was 2,500 U/ml, and the value significantly decreased to the normal range (< 45 U/ml) 2 months after the operation. Low-dose FP (5-FU+CDDP) followed by TS-1 alone (80 mg/day) had been performed as adjuvant chemotherapy. Jaundice appeared and the serum STN level increased again 22 months after the operation. He was diagnosed with a recurrence in the hilar lymph node of the liver. After implantation of expandable stent in the common bile duct, triweekly docetaxel therapy with TS-1 administration (day 1-14) has been performed. Three courses of this therapy have induced a complete response of the recurrent lymph node and the normalization of the serum STN value. No major adverse reaction to this therapy was observed. A complete response and good patient QOL have been achieved during follow-up 8 months after the administration of TS-1 with docetaxel. This case suggests that patients with recurrent gastric cancer who have undergone prior therapy with TS-1 alone could benefit from TS-1 with docetaxel therapy as a second line.     

A case of advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis that responded to paclitaxel plus 5-FU therapy

We report a case in which paclitaxel (PTX) plus 5-FU therapy was remarkably effective for advanced gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis. The patient was a 41-year-old woman who had type 4 gastric cancer with peritoneal metastasis. PTX plus 5-FU therapy was performed. The regimen included 600 mg/body/day of 5-FU by continuous iv administration from day 1 to 5 and consequent administration of PTX (90 mg/body) on days 8, 15 and 22 for 28 days repetitively. After 4 courses were completed, abdominal CT revealed that ascites had disappeared and the stomach wall had become thinner. Thus,we considered the patient had a partial response, and performed total gastrectomy. After the operation, PTX plus 5-FU therapy was used for 8 courses with the same regimen. No serious adverse event was observed,and the patient maintained good QOL throughout the treatment. No sign of progressive disease was seen for 12 months after the operation. However, 18 months after beginning the treatment, peritoneal metastasis became worse, and she died 19 months after treatment had begun. Considering the effectiveness and mild toxicity, PTX plus 5-FU therapy is thought to be useful for advanced gastric cancer.     

Weekly docetaxel and bortezomib as first-line treatment for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer: a Minnie Pearl Cancer Research Network phase II trial

Background

Docetaxel is currently the standard first-line treatment in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). Bortezomib, the first proteasome inhibitor in clinical use, demonstrated activity against prostate cancer in phase I trials. For this reason, we evaluated the efficacy of docetaxel plus bortezomib in the first-line treatment of patients with HRPC.

Patients and Methods

Between February 2004 and May 2005, 63 eligible patients entered this phase II trial. All patients had metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate that had progressed on hormonal therapy. All patients received docetaxel 30 mg/m² and bortezomib 1.6 mg/m² on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Patients were reevaluated after 8 weeks of treatment; responding and stable patients continued treatment until tumor progression.

Results

Sixty patients (95%) received ≤ 2 courses of treatment and were evaluable for response. Fifteen patients (25%; 95% confidence interval, 15%-38%) had a > 50% decrease in serum prostate-specific antigen level with treatment; the median response duration was 8 months. The median progression-free and overall survival times for the entire group were 4.1 months and 13.8 months, respectively; 20% of patients were alive at 2 years. The regimen was well tolerated, with uncommon grade 3/4 toxicity.

Conclusion

Treatment with this combination of weekly docetaxel and bortezomib showed no suggestion of improved efficacy versus previous results with docetaxel alone. Bortezomib has minimal activity in patients with HRPC and is unlikely to make any impact on treatment efficacy.     

The European Medicines Agency Review of Abiraterone for the Treatment of Metastatic Castration‐Resistant Prostate Cancer in Adult Men After Docetaxel Chemotherapy and in Chemotherapy‐Naïve Disease: Summary of the Scientific Assessment of the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use

On September 5, 2011, abiraterone was approved in the European Union in combination with prednisone or prednisolone for the treatment of metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) in adult men whose disease has progressed on or after a docetaxel‐based chemotherapy regimen. On December 18, 2012, the therapeutic indication was extended to include the use of abiraterone in combination with prednisone or prednisolone for the treatment of metastatic CRPC in adult men who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic after failure of androgen deprivation therapy in whom chemotherapy is not yet clinically indicated. Abiraterone is a selective, irreversible inhibitor of cytochrome P450 17α, an enzyme that is key in the production of androgens. Inhibition of androgen biosynthesis deprives prostate cancer cells from important signals for growth, even in cases of resistance to castration. At the time of European Union approval and in a phase III trial in CRPC patients who had failed at least one docetaxel‐based chemotherapy regimen, median overall survival for patients treated with abiraterone was 14.8 months versus 10.9 months for those receiving placebo (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval 0.54–0.77; p < .0001). In a subsequent phase III trial in a similar but chemotherapy‐naïve patient population, median radiographic progression‐free survival was 16.5 months for patients in the abiraterone treatment arm versus 8.3 months for patients in the placebo arm (hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.45–0.62; p < .0001). Abiraterone was most commonly associated with adverse reactions resulting from increased or excessive mineralocorticoid activity. These were generally manageable with basic medical interventions. The most common side effects (affecting more than 10% of patients) were urinary tract infection, hypokalemia, hypertension, and peripheral edema.     

Biweekly docetaxel and vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy in metastatic breast cancer

This study was designed to evaluate the antitumor activity and tolerance of biweekly docetaxel plus vinorelbine as first-line chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Forty-one patients with measurable disease and no prior chemotherapy for MBC were treated with docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) plus vinorelbine 30 mg/m(2) on day 1, every 2 weeks for a maximum of 12 courses. Median age was 58 years (range, 23-75). Fourteen patients (34.1%) were premenopausal and 27 (65.9%) were postmenopausal. Most patients had received prior neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy (n = 27, 65.9%), radiation therapy (n = 22, 53.6%), and hormone therapy (n = 21, 51.2%). The most frequent sites of metastasis were bone (n = 18, 43.9%), pleuropulmonary (n = 16, 39%), and liver (n = 14, 34.1%). Twenty-seven patients (65.9%) had more than one site of metastasis. Three hundred and thirty-nine courses were given (median, 8 courses per patient; range, 1-12). Median relative dose intensity was 85% for both docetaxel and vinorelbine. Grade 3/4 toxicities included neutropenia (14 patients, 34.1%), febrile neutropenia (n = 14, 34.1%), and stomatitis (n = 4, 9.8%). No treatment-related deaths were reported. All patients were assessed for response in an intent-to-treat analysis. Four patients (9.8%) had a complete response and 19 (46.3%) had a partial response (overall response rate, 56.1%; 95% CI, 42%-70%). Six patients (14.6%) had stable disease and 12 patients (29.3%) had progressive disease. With a median follow-up of 15.1 months or until death, median duration of response is 12.6 months. Median time to progression is 12.4 months. Median survival time is 19.6 months. This biweekly combination of docetaxel plus vinorelbine is feasible and active as first-line chemotherapy in patients with MBC. This regimen is safe and well tolerated.     

A case of docetaxel-induced acute lung injury refractory to treatment

A 59-year-old man was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer of the upper lobe of the left lung 11 months before his current admission. The clinical stage was T2N3M1(Stage IV). We started chemotherapy(carboplatin/gemcitabine), which was administered for 7 courses and discontinued 5 months before admission, but he subsequently showed a local relapse. Therefore, we restarted second-line chemotherapy(docetaxel)on admission. Only a single dose of docetaxel was administered, but the patient was diagnosed with respiratory failure 18 days afterwards. The chest roentgenogram and computed tomography showed ground-glass opacities. Bronchoalveolar lavage and blood test data showed no evidence of infection. We diagnosed the patient with acute lung injury induced by docetaxel. The patient was admitted to the intensive care unit, and therapy with steroids and sivelestat was initiated. In addition, artificial respiration, direct hemoperfusion with a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column, etc., were performed. However, this intensive care regimen was unsuccessful, and the patient died 31 days after docetaxel administration. Docetaxel is generally used in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. However, the present case showed that its use might lead to fatal drug-induced lung injury.     

激素抵抗性前列腺癌化疗15例报告

目的：探讨多西紫杉醇联合泼尼松治疗内分泌治疗失败前列腺癌的应用价值。方法：入选15例非激素依赖性前列腺癌患者,给予多西紫杉醇75 mg/m^2,第1天;泼尼松5 mg bid,第1-21天,21天为1个周期,每例接受化疗6-10个周期不等。结果：本组病例随访6-87周,中位61周。其中26.7%（4/15）完全缓解,46.7%（7/15）部分缓解,20.0%（3/15）稳定,6.66%（1/15）进展。缓解和稳定患者的PSA进展中位时间是40.3周（13-67周）。8例骨痛患者中5例疼痛缓解。 中位生存期大于12个月。不良反应可耐受。结论：多西紫杉醇联合泼尼松治疗激素抵抗性前列腺癌有较好疗效,不良反应轻。     

Weekly low-dose docetaxel in advanced hormone-resistant prostate cancer patients previously exposed to chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity and tolerability of docetaxel in patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer previously exposed to chemotherapy. METHODS: We enrolled 27 patients with hormone-resistant prostatic cancer that had progressed during first-line chemotherapy. The primary end-point was palliative response defined as a 2-point reduction in the 6-point present pain intensity scale, and an improvement in Karnofsky performance status of one 10-point category. The treatment consisted of weekly docetaxel 25 mg/m(2) body surface area administered by means of a 1-hour intravenous infusion with corticosteroid premedication. RESULTS: The primary criterion of palliative response was met in 13 patients (48%) after eight treatment cycles; its median duration was 6 months (range 1-8). Mean global quality of life improved in 8 and 10 patients after respectively four and eight treatment cycles. After a median follow-up of 8 months, 21 patients had died: the median survival was 9+ months (range 2-18). Weekly docetaxel was very well tolerated: grade 3 neutropenia occurred in 1 patient and grade 3 anemia in 2. CONCLUSIONS: Weekly low-dose docetaxel is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with hormone-resistant prostate cancer previously exposed to chemotherapy.     

Randomized phase II study of docetaxel plus estramustine and single-agent docetaxel in patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Docetaxel (Taxotere)-based regimens are the new standard therapy in advanced hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). A synergistic activity has been shown with docetaxel in combination with estramustine in vitro; however, the benefit of this combination remains controversial in clinical practice. We assessed the activity and safety of docetaxel alone and docetaxel-estramustine in HRPC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 92) with metastatic HRPC and rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) while receiving androgen suppression were randomized to 3-weekly treatment with either docetaxel 75 mg/m(2), day 1 (D), or docetaxel 70 mg/m(2), day 2, plus oral estramustine 280 mg twice daily, days 1-5 (DE). RESULTS: Ninety-one patients were treated (DE 47, D 44). A PSA response occurred in 68% (primary endpoint met) and 30% of patients, respectively. Median PSA response duration was 6.0 months in both groups. Median time to progression was 5.7 and 2.9 months, and median survival was 19.3 and 17.8 months in the DE and D arms, respectively. Hematologic and non-hematologic toxic effects were mild and similar in both arms. One patient in each group withdrew due to toxicity. Quality of life was similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Combining estramustine with docetaxel in this schedule is an active and well-tolerated treatment option in HRPC.     

Evidence for in vivo synergism between docetaxel and gemcitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The docetaxel and gemcitabine combination is active as salvage therapy in taxane-resistant/refractory patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We conducted a phase II study to determine if this activity is due to an in vivo synergistic effect. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Women with measurable MBC, who were refractory or resistant to docetaxel monotherapy as first- or second-line treatment, were enrolled. Patients with progressive disease (PD) or stable disease (SD) after receiving at least four cycles of docetaxel received gemcitabine 900 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 plus docetaxel 100 mg/m(2 )on day 8, every 3 weeks. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor could be used prophylactically in patients who experienced grade 3/4 neutropenia after the first cycle. RESULTS: Between January 1999 and March 2002, 173 courses of docetaxel and gemcitabine were administered to 50 patients. The median number of metastatic sites was two (range one to three). Forty-six percent of patients responded (three complete responses, 20 partial responses), whereas 28% had SD and 26% had PD. The median duration of response was 6.1 +/- 2.4 months. The median time to disease progression was 7.5 months (range 1-25) and the overall median survival was 15 months (range 3-57). Neutropenia was the only National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria grade 4 toxicity (in seven patients). Hematological grade 3 toxicities included neutropenia in 12 patients, thrombocytopenia in seven and anemia in one, while non-hematological toxicities were mild and manageable. CONCLUSIONS: The high overall response rate of the docetaxel plus gemcitabine combination after docetaxel failure in patients with MBC can be attributed to an in vivo synergism between the two drugs. These data warrant confirmation in a randomized study.     

A case report of both CAF and docetaxel-resistant breast cancer responding to paclitaxel weekly therapy

A 58-year-old woman underwent CAF and docetaxel therapy for lung, liver and bone metastases from breast cancer operated on 14 years ago. Because of progressive disease due to secondary resistance to CAF and docetaxel, the patient was given three courses of paclitaxel therapy (60 mg/m2, day 1, 8, 15, repeated every 4 weeks). The paclitaxel weekly therapy brought about no adverse effects and remarkable effects against lung and liver metastases (PR). Although the duration of the response to the paclitaxel therapy was limited to about two months due to the progression of skull bone metastasis, paclitaxel weekly therapy may be effective against both CAF and docetaxel-resistant breast cancer.