[Docetaxel-based systemic chemotherapy in elderly Korean men with castration-resistant prostate cancer]

The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of docetaxel-based systemic chemotherapy in elderly patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 36 patients with CRPC who were treated with docetaxel-based systemic chemotherapy at a single institution between May 2005 and April 2010. After screening, 30 patients met the eligibility criteria, and were included. Patients were placed into 2 groups: group 1 consisted of 9 patients aged <70 years, and group 2 consisted of 21 patients aged ≥70 years. The treatment consisted of prednisolone (5mg) twice daily and docetaxel (75 mg/m(2)) once every 3 weeks.

The median age was 72 years, and the median performance status was 0. The median baseline prostate specific antigen (PSA) was 33.8 ng/mL. The mean number of docetaxel chemotherapy cycles was 5.8. The PSA response rate was 48.2%, and the measurable disease response rate was 15.0%, and these rates did not differ between the two groups. The median time to PSA progression and median overall survival were 6 and 9 months, respectively. Five patients experienced grade 3 or higher neutropenia. The drug-related toxicity was not different between the two groups.

The response of elderly CRPC patients with good performance status to docetaxel-based systemic chemotherapy was similar to that of younger patients. Docetaxel-based systemic chemotherapy is generally tolerated in elderly patients with good performance status.