Phase II multicenter study of epirubicin for hormone-resistant prostatic cancer with measurable soft tissue disease

Twenty-six patients with prostatic cancer were treated with courses of epirubicin at 3-week intervals, starting at an initial intravenous dose of 75 mg/m2. All patients had progressive disease after orchiectomy and/or antiandrogen therapy and had measurable soft tissue lesions. There were three partial responders (response rate: 12%; 95% confidence limits: 4-29%). Major toxicity was myelosuppression, and there were two drug-related deaths. Epirubicin in this dose and schedule cannot be recommended for treatment of prostatic cancer.