Rechallenge of docetaxel combined with epirubicin given on a weekly schedule in advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer patients previously exposed to docetaxel and abiraterone acetate: a single-institution experience.

The aim of this paper was to evaluate the activity and tolerability of weekly docetaxel (D) combined with weekly epirubicin (EPI) in patients with advanced castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) previously exposed to D and abiraterone acetate (AA). Locally advanced or metastatic CRPC patients with 0-2 performance status, who had progressed after D and AA therapy, were included in the study. Previous treatment with chemotherapy agent cabazitaxel was also admitted. Treatment consisted of D 30 mg/m(2) intravenously (i.v.) and EPI 30 mg/m(2) i.v., every week (D/EPI). Chemotherapy was administered until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. In our institution, twenty-six patients received D/EPI: their median age was 72 years (range 59-83 years). Twenty-three (88.5%) patients had bone metastases. A decrease in PSA levels ≥50% was observed in seven patients (26.9%, 95% CI: 0.11-0.47); of these, five had achieved a ≥50% PSA response during prior first-line D and six had achieved a PSA response during prior AA Among the subjects who were symptomatic at baseline, pain was reduced in nine patients (38.1%) with a significant decrease in analgesic use. Median progression-free survival was 4.4 months (95% CI, 3-5.2), and median overall survival was 10.7 months (95% CI, 8.9-18.4). Treatment was well tolerated and no grade 4 toxicities were observed. Our findings suggest that weekly D/EPI is feasible and active in heavily pretreated advanced CRPC patients and seem to support the hypothesis that the addition of EPI to D may lead to overcome the resistance to D in a subgroup of patients.

Docetaxel and epirubicin compared with docetaxel and prednisone in advanced castrate-resistant prostate cancer: a randomised phase II study.

BACKGROUND: This randomised phase II study compared the activity and safety of the combination docetaxel (D)/epirubicin (EPI) with the conventional treatment D/prednisone (P) in advanced castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to D 30 mg m(-2) as intravenous infusion (i.v.) and EPI 30 mg m(-2) i.v. every week (D/EPI arm), or D 70 mg m(-2) i.v. every 3 weeks and oral P 5 mg twice daily (D/P arm). Chemotherapy was administered until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients were enrolled in the study and randomly assigned to treatment: 37 to D/EPI and 35 to D/P. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 11.1 months (95% CI 9.2-12.6 months) in the D/EPI arm and 7.7 months (95% CI 5.7-9.4 months) in the D/P arm (P=0.0002). The median survival was 27.3 months (95% CI 22.1-30.8 months) in the D/EPI arm and 19.8 months (95% CI 14.4-24.8 months) in the D/P arm (P=0.003). Both regimens were generally well tolerated. CONCLUSION: The treatment of advanced CRPC with weekly D combined with weekly EPI was feasible and tolerable, and led to superior PFS than the treatment with 3-weekly D and oral P.