The use of Docetaxel (chemotherapy) extends survival time in men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Many researchers believe that platinum compounds, particularly Carboplatin, when added to docetaxel (taxane-based chemotherapy) can further extend survival times.

A study at the Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Investigated the efficacy of combination taxane-estramustine-carboplatin (TEC) chemotherapy to see if it would extend survival time.

They evaluated data from 310 men from seven different trials using TEC chemotherapy. The researchers looked at PSA response (>/=50% post-therapy decline from baseline) and overall survival (from baseline to death from any cause).

After completing their analysis, the researchers concluded that TEC chemotherapy has significant clinical activity in CRPC and needs to be evaluated by a randomized, controlled phase III trial evaluating the addition of carboplatin to taxane-based chemotherapy.

Ann Oncol. 2009 Jul 24. [Epub ahead of print]; Regan MM, O’Donnell EK, Kelly WK, Halabi S, Berry W, Urakami S, Kikuno N, Oh WK.

PMID: 19633053

Joel T Nowak MA, MSW