In a nutshell
The authors determined the benefit of docetaxel (Taxotere), bevacizumab (Avastin) and hormone therapy in treating prostate cancer patients with biochemical recurrence.
Some background
Biochemical recurrence can occur in prostate cancer patients after primary treatment. This means there is an increase in PSA. PSA is a protein elevated in the blood in presence of prostate cancer. This indicates that the cancer has returned. Hormone therapy can be used as a treatment option in biochemical recurrence. Hormone therapy targets the male sex hormones active in prostate cancer, such as testosterone. Drugs such as docetaxel and bevacizumab can be used as additional treatment options. Docetaxel is a chemotherapy drug that prevents cancer cell growth. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody (artificial immune cell) that boosts the immune systems’ response to cancer cells.
Further studies are needed to determine the best treatment options in patients with biochemical relapse after primary prostate cancer treatment
Methods & findings
The aim of this study was to determine the best treatment options available for patients who experience biochemical recurrence after primary prostate cancer treatment.
41 patients underwent treatment with docetaxel, bevacizumab and hormone therapy in this study. The median (mid-point) follow-up time was 27.5 months.
The average time from treatment until PSA progression was 27.5 months. The median (mid-point) PSA level for patients was 0.0 mg/dL . The median time taken from start of the treatment to achieve the lowest PSA level was 5.5 months. At 1 year following completion of hormone treatment, the median PSA level was 0.31 ng/dL. 44% of patients had a PSA level of less than 0.2 ng/dL. Overall, 20% of patients did not experience PSA progression. 46% of patients did not restart hormone treatment again. For 83% of patients, the cancer did not spread to the parts of the body.
11 patients experienced grade 3 or 4 (severe to life-threatening) side effects when treated with bevacizumab. 14 patients experienced grade 3 or 4 side effects when treated with docetaxel. The most common side effects were low immune cell levels and high blood pressure.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that treatment with hormone therapy, docetaxel and bevacizumab was feasible and lowered the PSA level in prostate cancer patients.
The fine print
Long term follow-up is needed for results to be widely applied.
Published By :
Cancer
Date :
Apr 22, 2015
