A randomized study comparing epirubicin in a 4-weekly versus a weekly intravenous regimen in patients with metastatic, hormone resistant, prostatic carcinoma: effects on health related quality of life

The treatment of hormone resistant prostate cancer) with epirubicin 25 mg/m² (Epi25) on a weekly intravenous regimen may be better in terms of health related quality of life (HRQOL) than with 100 mg/m² (Epi100) on a 4-weekly regimen. A total of 79 patients who filled out the EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire for the assessment of HRQOL could be evaluated. Compared with the baseline, no changes in HRQOL function scales or significant changes in the following HRQOL symptom scales were found. The Epi25 group reported less pain during the first 3 months and the Epi100 group more dyspnoea after 4 weeks and less pain and less insomnia but more loss of appetite after 8 weeks. In both groups, toxicity was comparable, except for World Health Organisation grade II-III alopecia occurring in 82% in the Epi100 versus 31% in the Epi25 group. There were no significant differences between groups in response rates and survival. In this study, HRQOL was not improved which is in line with other studies using only epirubicine. Epirubicin as single agent therapy should not be used in future treatment of patients with HRPC.