Estramustine, Etoposide and Paclitaxel Treatment for Hormonally Responsive Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2006-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Hormonal therapy is the standard treatment for prostate cancer which has spread to other
areas of the body. Despite the high initial response rates to hormonal therapy, the vast
majority of men will develop cancer which is no longer responsive to hormone deprivation. The
average time for hormonal therapy to be effective is about 18 months. Chemotherapy
combinations which can treat the disease when it no longer responds to hormonal therapy have
been developed, but these treatments are not curative. One of these combinations is
estramustine, etoposide and paclitaxel. In men with far advanced disease, 60% will have a
decrease in their PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) or shrinkage of tumors after treatment with
this chemotherapy. Despite this, these men have all developed further disease progression
requiring additional treatment. One possible way to make chemotherapy more effective is to
give it when the number of tumor cells is smallest, and the number of cells to be killed is
at a low level. One situation in which this is true is when a man has responded to hormonal
therapy any tumors are at their smallest size. This study will test whether the addition of
chemotherapy at that time will prolong the time until the cancer becomes unresponsive to
hormonal therapy.
Phase:
Phase 2
Details
Lead Sponsor:
University of Michigan Cancer Center University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center