An indian prospective study of docetaxel therapy in crpc: can pretreatment factors predict the response

Introduction: Studies on the effects of chemotherapy in Indian Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC) patients are very limited and world data is inconsistent. The purpose of the present study is to assess the effects of Docetaxel therapy in CRPC in Indian patients in terms of survival benet, both progression-free survival, and overall survival. This study also analyzes the effects of various factors on the survival of CRPC patients. Methodology: This is a single institutional prospective observational study. CRPC patients were treated with Docetaxel and followed till death as the primary endpoint or till the end of the study. Survivals were calculated with the Kaplan Meier method. Factors affecting survival were analyzed with univariate and multivariate analysis by log-rank t-test and Cox proportion hazard regression analysis. Result: Out of enrolled 101 patients, 78 were treated with Docetaxel. A decline in PSA (>50% reduction) was observed in 61.54%. Radiological response of regression noted in 40 % Nuclear Bone Scan and 19.23% CT/MRI by RECIST criteria. Progression-free survival and overall survival with Docetaxel (n=78) were 11.8 and 21 months respectively. Hemoglobin less than 11 gm%, Alkaline phosphatase more than 115 IU/dl, PSAmore than 14 ng/ml, Gleason score more than 7 and duration from diagnosis of carcinoma prostate to CRPC less than 24 months, the number of chemotherapy cycles less than 6 were all found to be signicantly associated with poor overall survival in univariate analysis while only Hemoglobin (P=0.0159) showed an independent association with overall survival in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Overall and progression-free survival of CRPC patients with Docetaxel is 21 & 11.8 months respectively. Hemoglobin, Alkaline phosphatase, PSA, Gleason score, Docetaxel cycle, and duration from diagnosis of carcinoma prostate to CRPC were found to be signicantly associated with poor overall survival.