SYMPTOMATIC IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH COMBINED ESTRAMUSTINE AND VINBLASTINE CHEMOTHERAPY FOR METASTATIC PROSTATE-CANCER

We evaluated the effectiveness of combination chemotherapy using estra mustine and velban for metastatic prostate cancer. Patients with progr essive metasatatic prostate cancer and rising prostate-specific antige n (PSA) values were evaluated between 1992 and 1994. All treatment was given on an outpatient basis. Vinblastine, 4 mg/m(2) i.v., was given weekly for 6 weeks with a 2-week rest period. Estramustine, 10 mg/kg o rally, was given in three divided doses for 6 weeks with a 2-week rest period between cycles. Of 15 patients, six (40%) had a response, in w hich a 25% decrease in PSA was associated with subjective improvement. There were no complete responses. Five partial responders had less pa in. Median duration of response or time to progression was 9 months. S urvival was 11.7 months for responders, 13.2 months for nonresponders. The combination of estramustine and velban is an effective therapy in progressive metastatic prostate cancer as measured by a decrease in P SA and improvement of symptoms.