Estramustine phosphate (Estracyt) treatment of T3-T4 prostatic carcinoma

From September, 1978, to November, 1980, 69 consecutive patients with locally advanced (T3-T4) prostatic adenocarcinoma, with or without distant metastases, were treated with oral estramustine phosphate. Dosage was 15 mg/kg/day for 2 months, followed by 5 mg/kg/day until progression. In the 48 evaluable patients with progressive disease that entry in the study, 1 complete response, 7 partial responses, 31 disease stabilizations, and 9 progressions were encountered (81.2% NPCP response rate). Karnofsky performance status equal to or less than 50 was predictive of poor response to estramustine phosphate. In the 10 evaluable patients with stabilized disease at entry in the study after orchiectomy, 2 complete responses, 4 partial responses, 3 disease stabilization, and 1 progression were noted. The major side effects observed were gynecomastia, nausea, and vomiting.