Evaluating docetaxel plus hormone therapy for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer

This study evaluated the long-term outcomes of docetaxel (Taxotere) plus hormone therapy for patients with metastatic prostate cancer (cancer that spread outside the prostate). This study found that this treatment combination improved survival for these patients, regardless of tumor burden.

One treatment for prostate cancer is hormone therapy (sometimes called androgen deprivation therapy). Hormone therapy lowers the amount of testosterone and similar hormones. For patients with a lot of tumors outside the prostate (high tumor burden), chemotherapy such as docetaxel may also be recommended. 

Previous studies suggest that combination treatment (docetaxel plus hormone therapy) may be effective for patients with a high tumor burden. However, whether patients with a few tumors outside the prostate (low tumor burden) should also receive docetaxel and hormone therapy is unclear.

This study had 1086 patients with metastatic prostate cancer. 362 patients received both hormone therapy and docetaxel. 724 patients received hormone therapy only (control group). Patients were followed for an average of 78.2 months.

Bone scans were available for 76% of patients. These were used to evaluate tumor burden. 468 patients had a high tumor burden (HTB), while 362 had a low tumor burden (LTB).

On average, patients in the docetaxel group survived for an average of 59.1 months compared to 43.1 months in the control group. 49% of patients in the docetaxel group were still alive 5 years later, compared to 37% of patients in the control group.

For patients with a low tumor burden, patients in the docetaxel group survived for an average of 93.2 months compared to 76.7 months in the control group. 72% of patients in the docetaxel group were still alive 5 years later, compared to 57% of patients in the control group.

For patients with a high tumor burden, patients in the docetaxel group survived for an average of 39.9 months compared to 35.2 months in the control group. 34% of patients in the docetaxel group were still alive 5 years later, compared to 24% of patients in the control group.

This study found that docetaxel plus hormone therapy improved survival for patients with metastatic prostate cancer. The authors suggest that this treatment was effective for both patients with a high tumor burden or a low tumor burden.

The study authors have received fees for lectures from pharmaceutical companies including Sanofi, which manufactures docetaxel.

If you are receiving hormone therapy, talk to your doctor about whether adding docetaxel is right for you.