Intermittent docetaxel chemotherapy as first-line treatment for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Caffo, Orazio; Lo Re, Giovanni; Sava, Teodoro; Buti, Sebastiano; Sacco, Cosimo; Basso, Umberto; Zustovich, Fable; Lodde, Michele; Perin, Alessandra; Facchini, Gaetano; Veccia, Antonello; Maines, Francesca; Barile, Carmen; Fratino, Lucia; Gernone, Angela; De Vivo, Rocco; Pappagallo, Giovanni L; Galligioni, Enzo
• Is Part Of: Future oncology. Volume 11:Number 6(2015)
• Page Start: 965
• Page End: 973
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: castration-resistant prostate cancer -- docetaxel -- intermittent chemotherapy -- quality of life -- randomized trial; Oncology -- Periodicals; 616.99405
• DOI: 10.2217/fon.14.284
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-6694

Abstract

ABSTRACT : Aims: The intermittent administration of chemotherapy is a means of preserving patients' quality of life (QL). The aim of this study was to verify whether the intermittent administration of docetaxel (DOC) improves the patients' QL.Patients & methods: All patients received DOC 70 mg/m 2 every 3 weeks for eight cycles. The patients were randomized to receive DOC continuously or with a fixed 3-month interval after the first four DOC courses.Results: The study involved 148 patients. There was no difference in QL between the groups receiving intermittent or continuous treatment. Intermittence had no detrimental effects on disease control.Conclusion: Although feasible and not detrimental, our results showed that true intermittent chemotherapy in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients failed to improve the patients' QL.