Phase II study of prolonged ambulatory infusion carboplatin and oral etoposide for patients progressing through hormonal therapy for prostate cancer.

Aim: To develop a well-tolerated outpatient chemotherapy regimen for hormone-insensitive prostate cancer.

Method: Forty patients received carboplatin 20 mg/m2 by continuous ambulatory infusion with oral etoposide 50 mg/day for 21 days repeated every 6 weeks.

Results: Four patients had a partial response and 16 patients had stable disease. Two of the partial responders and three additional patients recorded falls in prostate specific antigen of 50% or more. The median freedom from progression was 24 weeks and median survival 32 weeks. Twenty-four of 31 patients had decreasing pain scores and 20 of 34 patients recorded improved quality of life with at least one cycle of treatment. The main toxicity occurred in seven patients with World Health Organization (WHO) grade 4 neutropenia and in four patients with WHO grade 3 neutropenia. Only one patient developed febrile neutropenia. Six patients had grade 3 anaemia and three patients had grade 3 thrombocytopenia. Two patients reported grade 3 lethargy whereas 11 patients had grade 2 lethargy.

Conclusion: This was a well-tolerated regimen that improved symptomatic control of hormone-insensitive prostate cancer.