Purpose: In patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), bone-seeking radiopharmaceuticals, such as Re-hydroxyethylidene diphosphonate (HEDP), are effective for pain palliation and have a marked antitumor effect. Cabazitaxel is the standard second-line chemotherapy for mCRPC patients. We performed a phase 1 study investigating the safety and feasibility of the combined treatment with Re-HEDP and cabazitaxel in mCRPC patients.
Methods: Patients with mCRPC and documented disease progression on or after docetaxel were eligible for inclusion. In both dose levels, cabazitaxel (4 cycles of cabazitaxel 25 mg/m + 2 cycles of cabazitaxel 20 mg/m in level 1, and 6 cycles of cabazitaxel 25 mg/m in level 2) were combined with 2 cycles of Re-HEDP 40 MBq/kg (1.1 mCi/kg) (after the second and fourth cabazitaxel cycles). Three patients were planned for each dose level, expanding to 6 patients in case of a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). A DLT is defined as any grade 4 toxicity, or grade 3 toxicity delaying the next treatment cycle.
Results: Twelve patients were included, of whom 3 had progressive disease before the third cycle of cabazitaxel. In total, 1 DLT occurred (dose level 1) after treatment cycle 6 (Re-HEDP) (thrombopenia grade 3 delaying the next treatment cycle). The cohort was expanded to 6 patients, with no further DLTs. No DLT occurred in dose level 2. The most important adverse events were of hematologic origin, followed by mild fatigue and diarrhea.
Conclusions: Combination therapy with cabazitaxel and Re-HEDP is feasible and generally well tolerated with similar hematologic toxicity compared with cabazitaxel monotherapy.