Docetaxel plus prednisolone for the treatment of metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer: a multicenter Phase II trial in Japan.

Background: Docetaxel-based chemotherapy has been shown to be effective and well tolerated by Western patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). This study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of docetaxel in combination with prednisolone in Japanese patients with HRPC.

Methods: Patients aged 50-74 years with measurable metastatic HRPC were included in this non-comparative Phase II study.

Non-P-glycoprotein-mediated atypical multidrug resistance in a human bladder cancer cell line.

A human bladder cancer cell line resistant to adriamycin (ADM), T24/ADM9 has been established in vitro by exposing T24 parent cells to progressively higher concentrations of the drug over a period of 12 months. The T24/ADM9 cells were found to be 9 times more resistant to ADM than the T24 parent, and showed various degrees of cross-resistance to an ADM derivative, vinea alkaloids and a DNA topoisomerase II (Topo II)-targeting agent, etoposide. No significant differences was observed in the cellular accumulation of ADM between the T24/ADM9 and T24 parent cells.

2,5-Anhydro-D-mannitol: its unique central action on food intake and blood glucose in rats.

Peripheral administration of D-fructose has been reported to decrease food intake, and its 2-deoxy analogue, 2,5-anhydro-D-mannitol (2,5-AM), increased food intake and decreased blood glucose in rats. In the present study, 2,5-AM was selected for comparison with well-known 2-deoxy analogues of glucose. Infusion of 2,5-AM into the rat third cerebroventricle at 11.