[Low-dose docetaxel in combination with dexamethasone for hormone-refractory prostate cancer]

Efficacy and tolerability of docetaxel-based chemotherapy against hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) has been shown lately. The objective of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the efficacy and toxicity of low-dose docetaxel in combination with dexamethasone.

Sixteen patients, with a median age of 69.5 years (range 54-85 years), diagnosed with HRPC were administered a treatment regimen consisting of docetaxel (60-80 mg/body or 50 mg/m2) once every 3 or 4 weeks and dexamethasone 1 mg daily at our institution between November, 2004 and March, 2010.

The patients received a median of 11.5 cycles of treatment (range, 2-35 cycles). Eleven of 16 patients (68.8%) had a > or = 50% decrease in serum prostate-specific antigen. The median progression-free survival and overall survival times were 7.1 and 20.3 months, respectively. Grade 3 neutropenia occurred only in 2 patients. Infective endocarditis, gastrointestinal or cerebral hemorrhage, and compressive fracture were occurred in each patient.

The combination of low-dose docetaxel every 3-4 weeks and dexamethasone daily was effective and well tolerated in patients with HRPC. However, it is necessary to pay continuous attention to side effects due to the frequent presence of comorbid diseases particularly in the elderly.