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Etoposide, epirubicin and carboplatin in hormone-refractory prostate cancer

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Abstract

Twelve patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancer were treated with combination chemotherapy of etoposide, epirubicin and carboplatin (EEC). At relapse, all patients had metastases to the bone and/or soft tissues. The median number of courses was 3 (range 1–10). Epirubicin was not administered in 6 patients because cause of heart disease. Three patients (25%) had a partial response and 8 (67%) showed no change. The overall response rate was 92%. Pain relief was observed in 4 patients (44%). Four patients were still alive after a mean observation period of 18 months (range 4–36 months), while 8 died with a mean survival period of 11 months (range 7–15 months). Nausea, appetite loss, and alopecia were observed in some patients. All except one patient experienced bone marrow suppression, 5 of whom were treated with granulocyte-colony stimulating factor. EEC chemotherapy in hormone-refractory prostate cancer is considered to be more effective than other kinds of chemotherapy, whereas it frequently induces bone marrow suppression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan

    H. Fuse, Y. Muraishi, Y. Fujishiro & T. Katayama

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  1. H. Fuse
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  2. Y. Muraishi
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  3. Y. Fujishiro
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  4. T. Katayama
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Fuse, H., Muraishi, Y., Fujishiro, Y. et al. Etoposide, epirubicin and carboplatin in hormone-refractory prostate cancer. International Urology and Nephrology 28, 79–85 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02550142

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02550142

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