Abstract
BACKGROUND
The current study determined the efficacy and toxicity of weekly paclitaxel in combination with estramustine phosphate (EMP) in patients with androgenโindependent prostate carcinoma (AIPC).
METHODS
Patients with progressive AIPC received 90 mg/m^2^ paclitaxel by 1โhour intravenous infusion weekly for 3 weeks, followed by a 1โweek treatment rest. Patients received 140 mg EMP orally 3 times daily on the day before, the day of, and the day after paclitaxel administration. Patients received 1 mg warfarin daily to prevent thromboembolism.
RESULTS
Sixtyโsix patients with progressive AIPC received treatment at 29 centers. Fortyโtwo percent of patients had a 50% decline in prostateโspecific antigen (PSA; 95% confidence interval [CI], 30โ54%). For 26 patients with bidimensionally measurable disease, the objective response rate was 15% (95% CI, 1โ30%). The median time to disease progression was 6.3 months, and the median time to PSA progression was 11.4 months. The median survival period was 15.6 months. Grade 3โ4 toxicities were uncommon and included thromboembolism (8%), anemia (3%), neutropenia (3%), and peripheral neuropathy (2%). There was one treatmentโrelated death.
CONCLUSIONS
This regimen of EMP plus weekly paclitaxel was an active and well tolerated treatment for patients with AIPC. Cancer 2004;100:746โ50. ยฉ 2004 American Cancer Society.