I compiled a list of trials that are activily recruiting men with hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) who have also failed chemotherapy (taxotere). Being at this point in the disease process is by far the scariest time. We face the reality that there are no more approved treatments available to control the cancer.
Clinical trials are our best possible option at this time. Trials offer the opportunity to access cutting edge science. Trials are not without risks, so a very careful discussion with your doctors is vital prior to deciding to enter into any trial.
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Trials that are currently recruiting men with hormone refractory disease who have also failed chemotherapy:
Ixabepilone, Mitoxantrone, and Prednisone in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer That Did Not Respond to Hormone Therapy and Chemotherapy – NCT00331344
Use of Low Dose Ketoconazole in Prostate Cancer That Does Not Respond to Hormone Therapy and Prior Chemotherapy – : NCT00895310
Study of Patupilone in Prostate Cancer Patients Who Progress After Hormone Therapy and Docetaxel Chemotherapy – NCT00407251
Sorafenib to Overcome Resistance to Systemic Chemotherapy in Androgen-independent Prostate Cancer – NCT00414388
Safety and Efficacy Study of MDV3100 in Patients With Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Who Have Been Previously Treated With Docetaxel-based Chemotherapy- NCT00974311
Sunitinib Plus Prednisone In Patients With Metastatic Hormone-Refractory Prostate Cancer After Failure Of Docetaxel Chemotherapy (SUN 1120) – : NCT00676650
Study Using IMC-A12 or IMC-1121B Plus Mitoxantrone and Prednisone in Metastatic Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer, Following Disease Progression on Docetaxel-Based Chemotherapy – NCT00683475
Mitoxantrone, Etoposide, and Vinorelbine As Second-Line Therapy in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer That Did Not Respond to Hormone Therapy- NCT00627354
PHA-739358 for Treatment of Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer – NCT00766324
Satraplatin and Bevacizumab in Treating Patients With Metastatic Prostate Cancer Previously Treated With Docetaxel – NCT00499694
Sorafenib, Pemetrexed, and Cisplatin in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors – NCT00703638
If you go to the web at:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov and search for the trial number (the NCT number) you can read about the trial, as well as the inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Contact the trial director listed to get additional information as well as have any specific questions answered. Before deciding to join a trial you should discuss the trial with your doctor.
I urge you to consider entering into one of these trials, both for your sake and for the sake of those of us who will be facing this stage of disease progression in the future.
Those of us who are behind you in the timing of their cancer journey thank you for your willingness to explore new ground for our sake and the sake of our sons.
Joel T Nowak MA, MSW
I came off of a clinical trial of Ixabepilone, Mitoxantrone, and Prednisone, that lasted from February to August of this year. I had previously had standard Taxotere chemo for 1 year before my PSA began to rise.
In the clinical trial, My PSA went from 68 to 7.4 in July, after 8 cycles, 3 weeks apart. This was almost a 90% reduction.
After my PSA went up to 10 in September, it was decided to end the trial. Other factors were peripheral neuropathy in my feet, shortness of breath, reduction of heart function, and lesions in my liver.
I have been off chemo since August. This month, October, my PSA was 22.4, more that doubling after one month. As a result, I feel a sense of urgency to begin a new treatment. As you indicate, there are no other approved options.
I am currently looking into other clinical trials. I appreciate your research of existing trials, many of which look very promising. I am especially interested in targeted therapy, in which the drug searches for cancer cells, ignoring normal cells. This would reduce the side effects of general chemotherapy.
Trade-offs in clinical trials include the Phase and whether there is one arm of the trial that uses a placebo. Phase I trials might mean that the drug has not yet been tested in humans, usually only mice. Later phase trials may have proven results, but might include a placebo.
I view my treatments as stepping stones used to cross a river, each one taking you closer to either remission or a cure. I believe that I am better than half-way across the river.
Now that General Petraeus is widely known to have prostate cancer, it will bring more needed attention to this form of cancer.