Docetaxel Plus Vaccine Extends Progression-Free Survival Rates In Prostate Cancer Patients

Docetaxel has activity against androgen-insensitive prostate cancer (AIPC). Arlen et al. designed a randomized Phase II study in AIPC patients to compare a prostate-specific antigen vector–based vaccine vs. vaccine plus docetaxel.

Patients in the vaccine alone arm were allowed to receive docetaxel at progression.

Median progression-free survival rates on docetaxel was 6.1 months after crossover from vaccine vs. 3.7 months with the same drug regimen and patient population in a previous trial. Larger prospective studies will be required to validate these findings.

This was the first study to show that patients in both arms (vaccine ± docetaxel) developed equal T-cell responses to prostate-specific antigen showing that docetaxel (with steroid) did not inhibit immune responses.
source: February 15 Clinical Cancer Research Highlights | American Association for Cancer Research