Background: Vinorelbine (VRL) in combination with estramustine has known efficacy in the initial chemotherapeutic management of hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC). However, little is known about the efficacy of VRL as second-line chemotherapy in HRPC.
Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with HRPC treated in a single institution with VRL as second-line chemotherapy with or without estramustine. Patient baseline characteristics, declines in prostate-specific antigen, performance status, toxicities, and survival were assessed.
Results: Thirty-nine patients were treated with VRL between 1999 and 2005. Twenty-one patients (54%) received single-agent VRL and 18 patients (46%) had concomitant estramustine. Seven patients (17.9%, 95% confidence interval 7.5%-33.6%) treated with VRL experienced prostate-specific antigen declines >or=50%. Median duration of therapy was 1.4 months (range 0.2-14.0 months). Median overall survival was 6.9 months (range 1.4-29.9 months); it was 16.1 month in responders and 5.5 months in nonresponders. Median survival was significantly longer in patients with VRL and estramustine than in patients who received VRL alone (8.5 months versus 4.1 months, P=0.05). The most common reversible adverse effect of VRL was grade 1 or 2 fatigue observed in 36% of patients.
Conclusions: As a second-line chemotherapy, VRL demonstrated moderate activity and was well tolerated in patients with HRPC. Patients treated with the combination of VRL and estramustine experienced a longer survival than those receiving VRL alone.