Androgen ablation hormonal therapy (castration or LHRH drugs to reduce androgen levels) are the standard initial management for metastatic prostate cancer patients, as most have hormonally sensitive disease. Patients with high risk features (more extensive boney metastatic disease, high Gleason histologic scores) might benefit from the initial addition of chemotherapy to hormonal treatment.
CORT is participating in the national ECOG 3805 study called the CHAARTED (ChemoHormonal Therapy versus Androgen Ablation Randomized Trial for Extensive Disease), which moves docetaxel (Taxotere) chemotherapy earlier into the hormone-sensitive phase of metastatic prostate cancer treatment. Patients with poorer risk, higher PSA levels and higher alkaline phosphatase (bone enzyme) levels with bone pain are randomly assigned to treatment with hormones versus hormones with Taxotere chemotherapy. The goal of the study is to determine if the addition of docetaxel to standard androgen ablation therapy improves remission duration and survival, when compared to androgen deprivation therapy alone.
The side effects most frequently experienced with Taxotere include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, infection, sensory neuropathy, low blood counts, and fever. Standard androgen ablation hormonal therapy may produce fatigue, hot flashes, impotence, increased risk of thrombosis, or loss of libido.
For more information on our research studies, visit www.CORTPA.com, or speak with a Study Coordinator at 972-566-5588.
Tags: androgen ablation therapy, docetaxel, ECOG 3805, hormonal therapy, hormone sensitive prostate cancer, metastatic prostate cancer, Prostate Cancer, Taxotere
