Vinblastine versus vinblastine plus oral estramustine phosphate for patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer: A Hoosier Oncology Group and Fox Chase network phase III trial

Purpose: To compare vinblastine versus the combination of vinblastine plus estramustine as treatment far patients with hormone-refractory prostate can cer (HRPC). Patients and Methods: A total of 201 patients with metastatic prostate canc er, progressive after hormonal therapy and antiandrogen withdrawal (if prio r antiandrogen treatment), were randomized to receive vinblastine (V) 4 mg/ m(2) by intravenous bolus weekly for 6 weeks followed by 2 weeks off, eithe r atone or together with estramustine phosphate (EM-V) 600 mg/m(2) PO days 1 through 42, repeated every 8 weeks. Of 193 eligible patients, 98 received V, and 95 received EM-V, Results: Overall survival trended in favor of EM-V but was not significantl y different as determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis (P = .08), Median surviv al was 11.9 months for EM-V and 9.2 months for V, EM-V was superior ta V fo r secondary end points of time to progression (P < .001, stratified log ran k test; median 3.7 v 2.2 months, respectively) and for proportion of patien ts with greater than or equal to 50% prostate-specific antigen (PSA) declin e sustained for at least 3 monthly measurements (25.2% v 3.2%, respectively ; P < .0001), Granulocytopenia was significantly less for EM V compared wit h V (grade 2, 3, and 4 = 7%, 7%, and 1% v 27%, 18% and 9%, respectively; P < .0001); however, grade 2 or worse nausea (26% v 7%, respectively; P = .00 02) and extremity edema (225 v 8%, respectively; P = .005) were more freque nt for EM-V, Conclusion: Although overall survival was not significantly greater for the combination, EM-V was superior to V for time to progression and PSA improv ement These results encourage further study of estramustine-based antimicro tubule drug combinations in HRPC. (C) 1999 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.