High-dose calcitriol and carboplatin in metastatic androgen-independent
prostate cancer.

Beer TM, Garzotto M, Katovic NM.
Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland,
Oregon 97239, USA. beert@ohsu.edu

Calcitriol acts synergistically with carboplatin in preclinical models
of adenocarcinoma of the prostate. The authors sought to test high-dose
oral calcitriol in combination with carboplatin in patients with
metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer.

Seventeen patients received oral calcitriol (0.5 microg/kg) on day 1 and
intravenous carboplatin (AUC 7 or AUC 6 in patients with prior
radiation) on day 2, repeated every 4 weeks. PSA response was the
primary end point and was defined as a 50% reduction confirmed 4 weeks
later.

Palliative response (2-point reduction or normalization of pain on the
present pain intensity [PPI] scale without increased analgesic
consumption) was also examined. One of 17 patients (6%, 95% CI, 0-28)
achieved a confirmed PSA response. Four patients (24%, 95% CI, 7-49) had
PSA reductions ranging from 24 to 38%. Of the 15 patients with a PPI >
or = 1 point on entry, 3 (18%, 95% CI, 4-48) met criteria for palliative
response.

Treatment-related toxicity was mild and generally similar to that
expected with single-agent carboplatin. Despite encouraging preclinical
evidence, the addition of oral calcitriol to carboplatin in this study
was not associated with an increase in the response rate when compared
with the reported activity of carboplatin alone.

Publication Types:
Clinical Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
PMID: 15596926 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

knowledge is power - growing old is mandatory - growing wise is optional    
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