TREATMENT OF ADVANCED PROSTATE-CANCER WITH CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE, DOXORUBICIN, AND METHOTREXATE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 66  (10) , 1797-1802
Abstract
Twenty-three patients with advanced prostate cancer who had failed previous hormone therapy were treated with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and methotrexate on a 3-wk course. Of the 22 evaluable patients, over 1/2 had poor performance status, increased acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase levels and pain. Parameters which improved in > 50% of cases included acid and alkaline phosphatase levels, pain, performance status and measureable lesions (lung and soft tissue). Initial parameters associated with a significantly decreased survival were age > 66 yr, increased pain, poor performance status and increasing alkaline phosphatase. Prior radiation therapy was associated with increased drug toxicity, lower doses of chemotherapy and decreased survival (not significant). There was a significant relationship between the degree of improvement of acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, pain and performance status to increased survival. Three categories of response were defined based on these parameters. The mean survival of 7 patients with partial response (106 wk) is significantly longer than that of 7 with measurable response (57 wk) and 8 with no response (26 wk). Four patients had severe leukopenia; 1 died of sepsis. These results compare favorably with previous reports of chemotherapy treatment of advanced prostate cancer.