A reexamination of the stable category for evaluating response in patients with advanced prostate cancer

Phase II Study with Lonidamine in the Treatment of Hormone-Refractory Prostatic Cancer Patients

Twenty-one patients with metastatic prostate cancer who had become refractory to hormonal therapies received lonidamine (150 mg tid and 600 mg daily dose in 17 and 4 patients, respectively). In all but 4 patients, treatment was continued until disease progression or the development of severe toxicity. Toxicity was minimal and reversible (score 1 or 2) and included myalgia (8 cases), arthralgia (6 cases), gastrointestinal toxicity (11 cases), fatigue (14 cases) and testicular pain (9 cases). The response was evaluated after at least one month of therapy with lonidamine, according to NPCP-USA recommendations. Of 21 patients who entered the study, only 15 were evaluable for response; 2 died (1 for severe toxicity and 1 for drug-unrelated reasons). No objective response was obtained in the series. In fact, only 6 patients achieved stable disease and 9 progressed. Median survival time from the beginning of treatment was no longer than that of patients in a similar condition who were treated with standard palliative maneuvers. We conclude that this therapeutic approach with lonidamine is not active in hormone-refractory prostatic cancer patients with distant metastasis.

R75251 in Prostate Cancer Patients in Progression after First-Line Hormonal Treatment

Introduction

The therapeutic potential of R75251, a ketoconazole derivative which has shown marked antitumor activity in animals and in men, was investigated in 16 patients with advanced prostatic cancer progressing after one or more lines of hormone therapy.

Patients and methods

Patients were given the drug at 150 mg/b.i.d. for one month. After the first month of treatment, the dose was increased to 300 mg/b.i.d. In all patients, treatment was continued until disease progression or the development of severe toxicity. Clinical and biochemical assessments were performed on days 0, 14 and 28 and then repeated on a monthly basis.

Results

Of the 13 evaluable patients, 12 showed stable disease by strictly employing US-NPCP criteria. However, in 3 patients a clear effect was observed on the volume of their measurable lesions. In addition, 2 of them showed a more than 50% decrease of prostate-specific antigens (PSA). Overall, 50% of patients showed some decrease in PSA baseline levels. Overall tolerance to treatment was good.

Conclusions

Our results, although achieved in a small number of patients, suggest that R75251 has a moderate but definite activity in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and that the value of this drug as second-line treatment in these patients should be further investigated.

Vaccination of advanced prostate cancer patients with PSCA and PSA peptide-loaded dendritic cells induces DTH responses that correlate with superior overall survival

Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) are overexpressed in most prostate cancers. PSCA- and PSA-derived, HLA-A2 binding peptides are specific targets for T-cell responses in vitro. A phase I/II trial was performed to demonstrate feasibility, safety and induction of antigen-specific immunity by vaccination with dendritic cells (DC) presenting PSCA and PSA peptides in patients with hormone- and chemotherapy-refractory prostate cancer. Patients received 4 vaccinations with a median of 2.7 x 10(7) peptide-loaded mature DC s.c. in biweekly intervals. Clinical responses were assessed 2 weeks after the 4th vaccination. Immune monitoring was performed by DTH and HLA multimer analysis. Twelve patients completed vaccination without relevant toxicities. Six patients had stable disease after 4 vaccinations. One patient had a complete disappearance of lymphadenopathy despite rising PSA. Four patients with SD and 1 progressor developed a positive DTH after the 4th vaccination. With a median survival of all patients of 13.4 months, DTH-positivity was associated with significantly superior survival (p = 0.003). HLA tetramer analysis detected high frequencies of peptide-specific T cells after 2 vaccinations in 1 patient who was also the sole responder to concomitant hepatitis B vaccination as an indicator of immune competence and survived 27 months after start of vaccination. Vaccination with PSA/PSCA peptide-loaded, autologous DCs may induce cellular responses primarily in immunocompetent patients, which appear to be associated with clinical benefit. Testing of DC-based vaccination is warranted for patients at earlier stages of prostate cancer.

Changing perspectives of the role of chemotherapy in advanced prostate cancer

The use of cytotoxic chemotherapy in advanced prostate adenocarcinoma has been validated by the recent demonstration of survival benefit in two large randomized phase III trials. Before publication of these landmark trials, SWOG 9916 and TAX 327, no chemotherapeutic regimen had shown survival benefit in the treatment of androgen independent prostate cancer (AIPC). These trials provide new encouragement for the use of chemotherapy in all stages of disease. Improved communication between medical and urologic oncologists and early patient referral for clinical trial participation remains essential for identifying new chemotherapeutic regimens with improved activity in AIPC and for defining the role of chemotherapy in earlier-stage disease. This article discusses the role of chemotherapy as the current standard of care for the treatment of AIPC and provides a historical perspective of the trials that preceded the development of current docetaxel-based regimens.

Chemohormonal therapy as primary treatment for metastatic prostate cancer: a randomized study of estramustine phosphate plus luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist versus flutamide plus luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist

BACKGROUND

The present study was undertaken mainly to investigate whether chemohormonal therapy with estramustine phosphate plus luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist has a more beneficial effect than the hormonal therapy with flutamide plus LHRH agonist for newly diagnosed patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

METHODS

A total of 57 patients with metastatic prostate cancer aged 59-80 years (median 74 years) were entered in the study and were randomized to the treatment of estramustine phosphate (560 mg/day) plus LHRH agonist (estramustine group) or flutamide (375 mg/day) plus LHRH agonist (flutamide group) with stratification for the degree of performance status, histological differentiation and bone metastasis.

RESULTS

Both of the treatment regimens were well tolerated with similar incidences of adverse drug reactions. The overall response rates (complete response plus partial response) at 12 weeks after treatment in the estramustine and flutamide groups were 76 and 55%, respectively. The median time to objective progression for the estramustine group (25.4 months) was longer than that of the flutamide group (14.6 months). The serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone and testosterone were significantly lower in the estramustine group.

CONCLUSIONS

Chemohormonal therapy with estramustine phosphate plus LHRH agonist showed longer clinical progression-free survival than the hormonal therapy with flutamide plus LHRH agonist (P = 0.03), although there was no significant difference in the overall survival. A larger-scaled trial with more statistical power is required to clarify that the former regimen is more beneficial than the latter for newly diagnosed patients with advanced prostate cancer.

Bicalutamide monotherapy versus flutamide plus goserelin in prostate cancer: updated results of a multicentric trial

OBJECTIVES

To compare the efficacy of bicalutamide monotherapy to maximal androgen blockade in advanced prostatic cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Previously untreated patients with histologically proven stage C or D (American Urological Association Staging System) disease were randomly allocated to either bicalutamide (B) or goserelin plus flutamide (G+F). After disease progression, patients treated with B were assigned to castration. The primary endpoint for this trial was overall survival. Prostate cancer-specific survival and progression were included among secondary endpoints.

RESULTS

In total 108 patients received B and 112 received G+F. At a median follow-up time of 54 months (range 1-89), 151 patients progressed and 113 died. There was no significant difference in the duration of either progression-free or overall survival. Hazards of progression, death and cancer-specific death, corrected by disease stage, tumor grade and baseline PSA level, showed that patients initially assigned to B had a higher risk of progression but a comparable risk of death and cancer-specific death with the exception of patients with G3 tumors who had an increased risk of death).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with well or moderately well differentiated tumors, B monotherapy followed by castration may offer the same survival chance as maximal androgen deprivation. In those patients it thus represents a reasonable choice that can avoid the side effects of androgen deprivation for considerable periods of time.

Bicalutamide monotherapy versus flutamide plus goserelin in prostate cancer patients: results of an Italian Prostate Cancer Project study

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy of bicalutamide monotherapy to maximal androgen blockade (MAB) in the treatment of advanced prostatic cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Previously untreated patients with histologically proven stage C or D disease (American Urological Association Staging System) were randomly allocated to receive either bicalutamide or MAB. After disease progression, patients treated with bicalutamide were assigned to castration. The primary end point for this trial was overall survival. Secondary end points included response to treatment, disease progression, treatment safety, quality-of-life (QOL), and sexual function.

RESULTS

A total of 108 patients received bicalutamide and 112 received MAB. There was no difference in the percentage of patients whose prostate-specific antigen returned to normal levels. At the time of the present analysis (median follow-up time, 38 months; range, 1 to 60 months), 129 patients progressed and 89 died. There was no difference in the duration of either progression-free survival or overall survival. However, a survival trend favored bicalutamide in stage C disease but MAB in stage D disease. Overall and subgroup trends were confirmed by multivariate analysis. Serious adverse events and treatment discontinuations were more common in patients receiving MAB (P =.08 and P =.04, respectively). Fewer patients in the bicalutamide group complained of loss of libido (P =. 01) and of erectile dysfunction (P =.002). Significant trends favored bicalutamide-treated patients also with respect to their QOL, namely relative to social functioning, vitality, emotional well-being, and physical capacity.

CONCLUSION

Bicalutamide monotherapy yielded comparable results relative to standard treatment with MAB, induced fewer side effects, and produced a better QOL.

Management of Hormone-Sensitive and Hormone-Refractory Metastatic Prostate Cancer

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer is a significant health problem in the United States and is the focus of increasing attention in our society. With the aging of the US population, it is likely that prostate cancer will continue to grow in importance. The options for systemic therapy of metastatic prostate cancer should be familiar to physicians, including nonspecialists, whose patients seek their advice and counsel. METHODS: Past and recent literature was surveyed to provide an understanding of the systemic treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The author presents a review of the systemic treatment of metastatic prostate cancer in different clinical circumstances and addresses the current status of chemotherapy in the management of advanced prostate cancer. RESULTS: Early androgen deprivation used over prolonged periods appears to be modestly superior to delayed androgen deprivation with a small potential survival advantage and an advantage in delaying disease progression in advanced prostate cancer. Patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer may benefit from secondary hormonal therapy (eg, adrenal enzyme inhibitors, antiandrogens, glucocorticoids) and chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: The choices of therapy for metastatic prostate cancer depend on individual patient preference. Patients and physicians should be aware of the possible side effects associated with the therapeutics options for treatment of metastatic prostate cancer.

Phase I/II dose-escalation study of liarozole in patients with stage D, hormone-refractory carcinoma of the prostate

BACKGROUND

Liarozole binds to the cytochrome P-450-dependent hydroxylating enzymes involved in steroid biosynthesis and retinoic acid catabolism. This phase I study investigated the clinical/endocrine toxicity profile of liarozole and determined the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) in hormone-refractory prostate cancer patients.

METHODS

Groups of five patients were treated with oral liarozole caplets, starting at 37.5 mg twice daily. The dose was doubled for each subsequent group until the MTD was reached, after which, an additional 18 patients were entered into the MTD-1 dose stratum. The long-term safety of liarozole was assessed based on treatment-emergent signs and symptoms and clinically significant laboratory results.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients were enrolled. The MTD was determined to be 300 mg twice daily. Side effects that defined the MTD included lethargy, somnolence, body rash, and paresthesias. Two deaths occurred during the trial (pneumonia and myocardial infarction). Four patients had a > 50% decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels (two at 150 mg, two at 300 mg). Of nine patients with measurable disease, two had partial responses.

CONCLUSIONS

Liarozole was generally well tolerated with no evidence of adrenal insufficiency. Preliminary evidence of activity in this indication was observed based on dose-dependent decreases in PSA levels and improvement in soft-tissue metastasis.

Phase II study of orchiectomy combined with epirubicin as first-line treatment in advanced prostate carcinoma

Nineteen patients with metastatic prostate cancer were treated with orchiectomy plus six cycles of epirubicin in a dose of 90 mg/m2, intravenously, every 28 days. Median age was 63 years (range, 52-74 years). Sixteen patients had only bone metastases and 3 had soft tissue lesions plus bone metastases. Fifty-six percent had poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Response in patients with bone metastases was assessed by National Prostatic Cancer Project criteria. Of 19 patients, 9 (47%) achieved a complete and 7 (37%) a partial remission. The median duration of response was 20 months and the median survival time of all patients was 24 months (range, 3-100+ months). Toxicity was moderate and consisted of alopecia and mild nausea/vomiting. There was no significant hematological toxicity. It is concluded that the combined modality treatment with orchiectomy plus a cytotoxic drug, i.e., epirubicin, is feasible and does not appear antagonistic. Randomized studies should be initiated to prove or disprove a potential survival benefit of the combined modality as a first-line treatment.

Doxorubicin, mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of hormone refractory adenocarcinoma of the prostate: a Southwest Oncology Group study

In a Southwest Oncology Group phase II clinical trial, 68 patients with hormone refractory carcinoma of the prostate were treated with a combination of doxorubicin, mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil. Of the patients 11 were classified as good risk and 57 as poor risk. There were 1 complete and 10 partial remissions for a response rate of 16.2% (exact 95% confidence interval 8.4 to 27.1%). Median survival was 9 months (maximum 14) for good risk patients and 10 months (maximum 42) for poor risk patients. Toxicity was significant with leukopenia identified as dose limiting. Because of the low rate of response and significant toxicity, this regimen cannot be recommended as standard therapy for metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer.

Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. A Southwest Oncology Group study

BACKGROUND

Hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer remains a therapeutic challenge. Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil (CMF), a drug combination that is active in solid tumors, was evaluated using specific response criteria.

METHODS

Fifty-two eligible patients with measurable (19), evaluable (29), or bone scan only (4) metastatic prostate cancer were treated with cyclophosphamide, 100 mg/m2 every day by mouth, methotrexate, 15 mg/m2 intravenously weekly, and 5-fluorouracil, 300 mg/m2 intravenously weekly. Treatment was given continuously unless interrupted by toxicity or disease progression.

RESULTS

There were two partial responses (7%) among the evaluable patients. Six (32%) measurable patients and four (14%) evaluable patients had stable disease. Median time to progression was 3.2 months for measurable and 2.8 months for evaluable disease patients. Median survivals were 10.9 and 10.2 months, respectively. There was no difference between the two groups with regard to response rate or survival. Toxicity was acceptable and consisted primarily of myelosuppression.

CONCLUSIONS

CMF is minimally active in hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer.

Carboplatin in advanced hormone refractory prostatic cancer patients

25 patients with measurable or evaluable metastatic prostate cancer, progressive after hormonal treatment, were treated weekly with carboplatin 150 mg/m2 intravenously. The weekly schedule allowed higher dose intensity carboplatin administration with respect to the common monthly cycles. Toxicity was manageable even in elderly patients with extensive bone metastases and consisted primarily of myelosuppression. 4 out of 24 evaluable patients (17%) had a partial response and 12 (50%) had disease stabilisation. The median response duration was 7 months. Prostate-specific antigen and prostatic acid phosphatase serial values showed a correlation with disease response in only 47 and 50% of patients, respectively. These results suggest that carboplatin possesses a moderate but definite activity in prostate cancer patients.

Goserelin acetate with or without flutamide in the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic prostate cancer. The Italian Prostatic Cancer Project (PONCAP) Study Group

From March 1987 to December 1990, 373 patients with stage C and D prostate cancer were randomized to receive either goserelin acetate alone or goserelin acetate plus flutamide. At a median follow-up time of 24 months, there was no significant difference in the response rate, progression-free and overall survival between the two treatment groups. In particular, median time to progression was 18 months in the goserelin arm and 24 months in the combined treatment arm (P = 0.09). However, median time to progression in stage D patients was 12 months in both treatment groups. Median time to death was 32 and 34 months, respectively. The combination regimen produced a more rapid normalisation of prostatic acid phosphatase levels and a prompt relief of bone pain. However, significantly more patients in the combination arm experienced treatment-related side-effects such as diarrhoea and increases in transaminase levels. The concurrent use of goserelin acetate and flutamide does not seem to significantly improve the results that can be achieved with goserelin acetate alone.

Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions in benign hyperplastic and cancerous human prostates

Argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions (AgNORs) were examined histologically in cells of benign hyperplastic and cancerous human prostates. Individual dots of AgNORs inside nucleus that were stained as separate granules or as parts of clusters were counted as one, and the average number of dots per cell was obtained by counting 100 nuclei. The number in epithelial cells was similar to that in stromal cells of hyperplastic prostates. In cancerous prostates, the number was larger than in hyperplastic prostates and increased along with upgrading. The number in incidental cancers was smaller than in clinical cancers as compared with cells of the same Gleason pattern. Number correlated with T factor, but not with N and M factors. Response to treatment and cause-specific survival in stage D2 patients receiving endocrine therapy did not correlate with number, although a relationship between Gleason pattern and survival was shown in these patients. It was concluded that AgNORs might not be an indicator to predict prognosis after endocrine therapy, since a number of AgNORs did not influence response to the therapy.

Phase II study of the pure non-steroidal antiandrogen nilutamide in prostatic cancer. Italian Prostatic Cancer Project (PONCAP)

The activity of the pure non-steroidal antiandrogen nilutamide as a single agent was evaluated in 44 patients with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. Objective (partial) response rates (95% confidence limits) were 38.5 (18.7)% in 26 previously untreated patients and 5.5 (11%) in 18 patients progressing on primary androgen suppressive procedures. The most frequent side-effects were decreased adaptation to darkness (29.5%), slight nausea (31.8%) and alcohol intolerance (18.2%). In addition, treatment was discontinued in 3 patients because of gastrointestinal symptoms. A non-significant increase in testosterone levels was shown in the untreated group during the first month of treatment, after which the levels remained stable. About half of the sexually active men claimed the maintenance of libido and sexual potency during treatment. Although our study confirms a significant incidence of visual disturbances, the activity data coupled with the ability of maintaining sexual interest suggest that single therapy with non-steroidal antiandrogens may deserve comparison to conventional endocrine treatment in controlled trials.

Monotherapy with nilutamide, a pure nonsteroidal antiandrogen, in untreated patients with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. The Italian Prostatic Cancer Project

A total of 26 previously untreated patients with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate received the pure nonsteroidal antiandrogen nilutamide as a single agent. Objective response rate was 38.5 +/- 18.7% (95% confidence interval). Median progression-free survival and median survival were 9 and 23 months, respectively. Of 13 patients with progression on antiandrogen 5 showed an additional objective response to a second-line endocrine treatment. The drug was generally well tolerated, except for 2 patients who discontinued treatment because of moderate gastrointestinal symptoms. Approximately a third of the patients complained of decreased adaptation to darkness. An electroretinogram and dark adaptation test revealed the presence of functional damage and visual complaints reversed in all patients on cessation of therapy. The other most frequent side effects were slight nausea (26.9% of the patients) and alcohol intolerance (19.2%). A nonsignificant increase in testosterone levels was shown within 1 month of treatment, after which the levels remained stable. Approximately half of the sexually active men claimed maintenance of libido and sexual potency during treatment. A slightly significant increase in hemoglobin was observed during the long term, suggesting the occurrence of a trophic effect by androgens on erythropoiesis. The results indicate that nilutamide as a single agent has an acceptable toxicity and a moderate activity, and may maintain sexual interest in a discrete number of cases. Whether monotherapy with nonsteroidal antiandrogens offers a valid option in the palliation of advanced disease remains to be seen in comparative prospective trials.

Flutamide in hormone-resistant prostatic cancer

Flutamide (250 mg. orally 3 times daily) yielded a subjective response in 5 of 25 fully evaluable patients with hormone-resistant prostatic cancer. Four additional patients had early progression. A 40% or greater decrease in the pre-treatment prostate specific antigen level was observed in 7 of 24 patients and this finding was correlated with improved survival. Toxicity was mainly gastrointestinal and resulted in permanent discontinuation of flutamide in 5 patients. Flutamide or similar antiandrogens may have a role in the management of hormone-resistant prostatic cancer when relief of subjective symptoms should be an important treatment goal together with improvement of survival. However, before the drug should be used routinely in the management of hormone-resistant prostatic cancer phase 3 studies must confirm its effectiveness, especially in comparison to less expensive drugs.

Human pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of leuprorelin acetate depot in prostatic cancer patients

A total of 21 patients with advanced prostatic cancer and one patient with benign prostatic hypertrophy received 3.75, 7.5 or 15 mg leuprorelin acetate depot subcutaneously. Serum leuprorelin concentrations increased immediately after injection, reaching a peak concentration (range 13.1-54.5 ng/ml), which was directly proportional to dose, within 3 h. Mean drug levels subsequently declined to a plateau directly proportional to dose at 5 weeks. There was also a significant (P less than 0.01) dose-dependent increase in the area under the concentration-time curve for 0-35 days. Serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone rose initially with all doses, followed by a rise in serum testosterone and dihydrotestosterone concentrations, which then fell sharply, within 3 weeks. A reduced level of follicle stimulating hormone subsequently occurred in all 20 evaluable patients and was maintained in 17 patients over 5 weeks. There was also marked initial suppression of luteinizing hormone levels in 15 patients and in 13 this continued. Castration levels of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone were maintained in all patients for up to 5 weeks. In two patients there was a complete response, in 14 a partial response and in three stable disease, with no significant differences in relation to dose. Clinical improvement and serum hormonal changes suggest that leuprorelin acetate depot is effective at a dose as low as 3.75 mg when given once every 4 weeks.

Prostate cancer: a model of cancer in the elderly

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in men over 70. Chronic course of the disease and multiple therapeutic options allow a customized management of the patient's individual problems. Prognostic factors are stage, size of primary tumors, serum acid phosphatase levels, number of metastases, ureteral obstruction and patient's age. In localized disease, surgery and radiation therapy are equally effective for patients with a life expectancy less than or equal to 10 years. Surgery may be superior to radiation if longer survival is expected. In locally advanced disease radiation therapy is preferred to surgery, due to a lower rate of complications. Management of metastatic disease requires offsetting androgen effects by castration or by antiandrogens. Orchiectomy, the safest way to produce castration, is unacceptable to 50% of patients. LHRH analogs are safer than estrogens, but more expensive; the risk of tumor flare up controindicates these compounds in life-threatening situations. The use of ketoconazole is limited by long-term toxicity, but may be life-saving in life-threatening situations, due to a rapid onset of action. Antiandrogens are as effective as castration, but are not commercially available in the USA. Alternative treatments include Estracyt, intermittent estrogentherapy, progesterone derivative and aminogluthetimide. Radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy to the prostate cause erectile impotence with persistence of orgasmic sensations. These patients are ideal candidates for erection-restoring interventions, such as intrapenile injections or penile implants.

Estramustine phosphate (estracyt) following androgens in men with refractory stage D2 prostate cancer

Twenty-two orchiectomized men with progressive stage D2 prostate cancer were treated with a 3-week cycle of estramustine phosphate (EMP: from day 3 to day 21) and androgen priming (from day 1 to day 4). A partial response according to the NPCP-USA criteria was shown in 4 of 20 evaluable patients. Median progression-free survival of all patients was 24 weeks (range, 4-48) and median survival, 42 weeks (range, 4-112). Although in two cases treatment had to be stopped due to a marked increase in bone pain, no life-threatening side effects were observed. The androgen sensitivity of tumors was supported by the occurrence of increase in prostatic phosphatase and in bone pain in most patients. In this group of patients, androgen priming did not seem to potentiate the effectiveness of EMP, our results being comparable to those previously reported using EMP alone.

Prostate cancer. Chemotherapy

Several chemotherapeutic drugs have been shown to be potentially effective in the patient with metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer. Individual patients who respond to these chemotherapy agents survive longer than nonresponders, but overall objective response rates for the entire group have been disappointingly small, the length of response short, and there has been no overall survival advantage. Combination chemotherapy has not yet been shown to be superior to single-agent chemotherapy in controlled phase III clinical trials. If chemotherapy drugs are administered to such patients, it is desirable to give them as part of protocols designed to gather reliable data on their risks and benefits.

[Value of a LHRH agonist (Zoladex) in hormonotherapy of advanced cancers of the prostate. Apropos of 22 patients]

Twenty-two patients with metastatic cancer of the prostate were treated with ZoladexR, an LHRH analogue. In all cases plasma testosterone levels decreased to post-surgical castration values. This inhibitory effect of Zoladex on testicular steroid production had a favourable influence on the course of the malignancy, since 75 p. 100 of objective responses were obtained after 3 months of treatment. The functional symptoms were distinctly improved, and the drug was well tolerated, notably by the cardiovascular system. This immediate effectiveness seemed to last for several months, one-half of the patients still being in remission after 3 to 15 months. The beneficial effects of LHRH agonists, similar to those of pulpectomy or oestrogen therapy, are limited by the susceptibility of the tumour to hormones. In view of their effectiveness and good tolerance, LHRH agonists are useful in the management of advanced prostatic cancer, either as initial therapy or to replace a poorly tolerated oestrogen therapy. Further studies are needed to clarify their indications and the possible value of their association with anti-androgens or antimitotic drugs.

Long-term results with a long-acting formulation of D-TRP-6 LH-RH in patients with prostate cancer: an Italian prostatic cancer project (P.O.N.CA.P.) study

Ninety-five patients with stage C (C1 + C2) or D (D1 + D2) prostatic carcinoma were treated with the depot formulation of D-TRP-6 LH-RH ("Decapeptyl") for up to 33 months. Serum testosterone (T) levels were significantly reduced to castration levels within 4 weeks and maintained persistently low. Similarly, LH levels were decreased, although they remained in the normal range. Stimulation tests with either Gn-RH or HCG in course of treatment showed the achievement of a complete pituitary desensitization and almost a complete down-regulation of testicular LH receptors. Of 88 patients evaluable for response, about one-half showed an objective response. In most cases, subjective improvement with relief of bone pain and/or urinary symptoms was obtained without major side effects. These results indicate that the depot formulation of D-TRP-6 LH-RH offers an effective therapeutic alternative for patients with advanced prostatic cancer.