Oral combination of cyclophosphamide, uracil plus tegafur and estramustinefor hormone-refractory prostate cancer

Objective: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of an oral combination of cy clophosphamide, uracil plus tegafur (UFT) and estramustine in the treatment of patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC), Methods: Twent y-one patients were treated with oral administration of cyclophosphamide (1 00 mg/day), UFT (400 mg/day) and estramustine phosphate (560 mg/day). The m edian age of the patients was 70 years. Twelve patients had symptomatic bon e metastasis, 6 had asymptomatic bone metastasis, 5 had lymph node metastas is, while 2 had only biochemical progression evaluated by prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Results: Twelve (57%) out of 21 patients showed a PSA decli ne of 50% or greater. The median response duration was 7 months (range 2-15 months). Among the 20 patients assessable for bone pain, 2 (10%) improved, 12 (60%) remained stable and 6 (30%) progressed. Among the 10 patients ass essable for bone metastasis, 1 (10%) improved, 5 (50%) were stable and 4 (4 0%) progressed on bone scan. Among 3 patients assessable for measurable dis ease (lymph node metastasis), 2 (67%) showed partial response and 1 (33%) p rogression. Most toxicities were mild. Conclusions: The combination of cycl ophosphamide, UFT and estramustine is an active and well-tolerated regimen for HRPC. To evaluate the survival benefit, further randomized studies are required. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.