The role of doxorubicin and epirubicin in the treatment of patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer

摘要: Advanced hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) is characterized by prevalently osteoblastic bone metastases which are what mostly affect these patients' quality of life and make the assessment response to treatment particularly difficult commonly used criteria. HRPC cannot be cured any available therapeutic option, chemotherapy has still considered as a palliative treatment. The anthracyclines doxorubicin (Dox) epirubicin (Epi), alone or in combination with other agents, have been extensively HRPC, but controversial results reported. majority reviewed studies reported pain reduction >50% patients receiving Dox Epi, suggesting substantial effect their use metastatic HRPC. weekly schedule seemed achieve similar 3-weekly better toxicity profile. Although toxic adverse effects were usually manageable when combined was severe number aggressive regimens. Docetaxel today approved for must standard platform on new agents may combined. Given that includes heterogeneous group variable rates tumour growth, docetaxel active such deserve further clinical investigation.