Low-dose prednisolone in first-line docetaxel for patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer: Is there a clinical benefit?

Randomized studies have shown improved survival with the combination of docetaxel (D) and prednisone in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). We retrospectively investigated whether coadministration of low-dose glucocorticoids has clinical benefits.

Records from 358 patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer treated consecutively with either D 75mg/m(2) every 3 weeks (n = 124) (Rigshospitalet) or D and prednisolone (P) 10mg daily (n = 234) (Herlev Hospital) given as first-line chemotherapy were reviewed. Of these, 15 patients treated with glucocorticoids at initiation of D at Rigshospitalet were excluded. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4. 0 was used to register any grade of peripheral edema, grade ≥2 sensory neuropathy, and grade ≥3 nonhematological toxicity. Background clinical data, rates of toxicity, hospital admissions, dose reductions, and post-D treatments were analyzed by the Chi-squared test or Mann-Whitney U test. Progression-free survival and overall survival were calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method.

Patients treated with D alone had a higher incidence of peripheral edema (32% vs. 15%, P

Coadministration of low-dose P reduced the incidence of peripheral edema, grade 3 nonhematological toxicity, and the risk of being admitted owing to febrile neutropenia during treatment with D. Adjusted survival analysis did not indicate that P affected prognosis.

Urologic oncology. 2015 Aug 05 [Epub ahead of print]

Per Kongsted, Inge Marie Svane, Henriette Lindberg, Gedske Daugaard, Lisa Sengeløv

Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT), Department of Hematology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark; Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark.  Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT), Department of Hematology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark; Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark. , Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark. , Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. , Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev, Denmark.

PubMed