Low dose methotrexate and doxorubicin in hormone-resistant prostatic cancer. Scottish Urological Oncology Group

A group of 24 patients, all of whom had progressive disease following initial hormone therapy for advanced prostatic carcinoma, were given intravenous methotrexate (30 mg/m2) and doxorubicin (15 mg/m2) at 2-week intervals for a planned 6-treatment course. Seventeen patients completed the full course. Assessment included "quality of life" criteria, using the subjective assessment of performance status, severity of pain and analgesic consumption. Over half of the patients improved in each of these modalities and 8 (33%) improved in all 3. As toxicity was acceptable, low dose chemotherapy may have a part to play in these patients who present a difficult management problem.