Biweekly doxorubicin/ketoconazole as second-line treatment in docetaxel-resistant, hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Docetaxel is an effective first-line treatment for hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Nevertheless, the prognosis subsequent to progression after first-line therapy is poor and no second-line treatment has been established.

METHODS:

A total of 34 patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer received doxorubicin, 30 mg/m(2), every 2 weeks and ketoconazole daily, 400 mg orally every 8 hours. All patients had been treated with docetaxel and had disease progression within 6 months after completion of first-line treatment.

RESULTS:

Of the 32 evaluable patients, 13 (43.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 26.3% to 62.3%) had a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response, and 4 (28%, 95% CI 8.4% to 58.1%) of 14 patients with measurable disease had a response to therapy. The median time to progression (TTP) was 3.9 months (95% CI 2.0 to 5.9), and the median overall survival (OS) was 13 months (95% CI 8.7 to 17.3). Toxicity was mild, with only 4 cases of nonhematologic grade 3 or 4 toxicity. The most frequent toxicity was nail changes (33 of 34 patients), which was mainly grade 1 (30 cases).

CONCLUSIONS:

The combination of biweekly doxorubicin and ketoconazole is an effective, well-tolerated, second-line therapy for hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

• Authors: George Lainakis, Antoniou Nikos, Alivizatos Gerassimos, Chrisofos Michael, Mitsoyiannis Iraklis, Livadas Konstantinos, Varkarakis Ioannis, Katsifotis Harilaos, Meletios A Dimopoulos, Aristotelis Bamias
• Journal: Urology (Urology) Vol. 71 Issue 6 Pg. 1181-5 (Jun 2008) ISSN: 1527-9995 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18400264 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
• Antifungal Agents
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Taxoids
• Docetaxel
• Doxorubicin
• Ketoconazole

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic (administration & dosage)
• Antifungal Agents (administration & dosage)
• Antineoplastic Agents (therapeutic use)
• Docetaxel
• Doxorubicin (administration & dosage)
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Ketoconazole (administration & dosage)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prostatic Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Taxoids (therapeutic use)