Chemotherapy Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Chemotherapy, including details on cancer treatment, side effects, drugs.

Pilot trial of adjuvant paclitaxel plus estramustine in resected high-risk prostate cancer.

Cetnar JP, Malkowicz SB, Palmer SC, Wein AJ, Vaughn DJ

Division of Hematology/Oncology, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104-4283, USA. jeremy.cetnar@uphs.upenn.edu

OBJECTIVES: To determine the feasibility and toxicity of adjuvant paclitaxel plus estramustine in prostate cancer patients at high risk of a 2-year PSA failure after prostatectomy. METHODS: Patients with prostate adenocarcinoma who underwent radical prostatectomy with at least a 50% probability of PSA failure at 2 years postprostatectomy received 4 cycles of paclitaxel 90 mg/m(2) by 1-hour infusion, weekly for 3 weeks, followed by a 1-week treatment rest. Patients received estramustine phosphate 140 mg orally 3 times daily on the day before, the day of, and the day after paclitaxel administration. Patients received warfarin 1 mg daily to prevent thromboembolism. Serum PSA was measured monthly during adjuvant therapy, then every 3 months for a minimum of 2 years. RESULTS: Between December 2001 and September 2004, 17 patients underwent radical prostatectomy and received protocol treatment at the University of Pennsylvania. The median risk of a 2-year PSA failure was 70%. Five (30%) patients had PSA failure develop after radical prostatectomy. The median time to PSA failure was 19 months. A statistically significant difference (P = 0.001) was noted between the expected rate of PSA failure (0.70) and the actual rate of PSA failure (0.30). Grade 3 to 4 toxicities were uncommon and included thromboembolism (6%) and neutropenia (6%). All patients completed 4 cycles of therapy and there were no treatment related deaths. CONCLUSIONS: The adjuvant use of paclitaxel and estramustine in resected high-risk prostate cancer patients is feasible and well tolerated. Adjuvant cytotoxic chemotherapy deserves further investigation with randomized studies.

Published 5 May 2008 in Urology, 71(5): 942-6.
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