Objective: To investigate the role and side effects of docetaxel and prednisone on treating hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC).
Methods: Docetaxel (75 mg/m(2)) and prednisone (5 mg, bid) were given to 14 patients, whose age range from 51 to 78 years old, of hormone-refractory prostate cancer for 3 - 8 cycles. Three-week is a chemotherapy cycle. Comparing the prostate specific antigen (PSA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), pain score, Karnofsky performance status, bone scan, lymph node size before and after chemotherapy.
Results: 100 - 140 milligram docetaxel were given for each cycle, 1-8 cycles were experienced. The responses of PSA: excellence-5 cases, utility-3 cases, uselessness-6 cases, PSA response ratio was 57.1%. Among 6 N(1) cases, lymph nodes diminished in 2 cases and enlarged in 1 case after chemotherapy. Bone scan has improved in 2 cases, and no differences in other cases. Pain scores were decreased from 0 to 6, and the average Karnofsky performance status was increased by 4%. The common adverse events were myelosuppression, alopecia, fatigue, nail changes, phlebitis.
Conclusion: Docetaxel plus prednisone for the treatment of HRPC can delay the progression of the disease, decrease the PSA value, diminish the lymph node, ease the pain, improve the quality of live, and the tolerance is quite good.