Chemotherapy for Prostate Cancer
Jacek Pinski, MD, PhD – USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA

Dr. Pinski points out that there is general agreement that patients who have metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) should receive chemotherapy, and that the drug Taxotere® (docetaxel) has been approved by the FDA based on improved survival data.

Dr. Pinski states that patients who fail docetaxel therapy should be offered some other chemotherapy, but that there is currently no FDA approved standard treatment in this case. Mitoxantrone has been used for palliative care. Studies have shown however, that docetaxel is more effective in median survival time, and reduction of PSA even though it causes more side effects. This makes docetaxel the new standard of care for metastatic HRPC.

Dr. Pinski presents the results of some other studies, and discusses new studies that are underway. He also addresses several issues about treatment, including:

• Who should be treated with chemotherapy?
• When should chemotherapy be started?
• When should it be stopped?
• When is intermittent chemotherapy advisable?
• What is likely to be the best sequencing of mitoxantrone and docetaxel therapy?
• How and when should elderly PC patients be treated with chemotherapy?
• What other drugs or supplements can be combined with standard chemotherapy agents to make them more effective?

This presentation was one of several given at the Prostate Cancer Research Institute’s September, 2006 conference “Improving Treatment and Quality of Life For Men with Recurrent and Advanced Prostate Cancer” held in Los Angeles, CA, USA. The Prostate Cancer Research Institute (PCRI) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to improve the quality of men’s lives by supporting research and disseminating information that educates and empowers patients, families and the medical community.

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