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Prostate Cancer treatment details. Biologic therapy.

Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.

Survival: monthsCountry:United States
Toxiciy Grade:5City/State/Province:Bethesda, Maryland
Treatments:Biologic therapyHospital:Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute
Drugs:Journal:Link
Date:Jul 2001

Description:

Patients: This Phase II study involved 63 patients with androgen-independent prostate cancer. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (low dose arm) and Group B (high dose arm). For patients in Group A, the median age was 68 years, 40% of patients had undergone prior orchiectomy (removal of a testicle), and the baseline PSA was 315 +/- 450 (mean +/- standard deviation). For patients in Group B, the median age was 65 years, 31% of patients had undergone prior orchiectomy (removal of a testicle), and the baseline PSA was 365 +/- 636 (mean +/- standard deviation). Metastatic sites for both groups of patients included bone and soft tissue.

Treatment: The treatment consisted of administration of the drug, thalidomide (thalomid), an angiogenesis (new blood vessel) inhibitor.

Toxicity: A patient committed suicide within 30 days of stopping thalidomide for progressive disease. The authors concluded that, “It is possible thalidomide contributed to his depression because there were 16 other mood toxicities reported.” In addition, there were 560 adverse events reported and 18 were classified as grade 3 or higher.

Results: The median survival duration for all 63 patients is 15.8 months. (There was no difference in survival between the two treatments groups.)

Correspondence: William D. Figg, MD


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