Docetaxel in the management of prostate cancer: current standard of care and future directions

Abstract

Background: Advanced and metastatic prostate cancer continues to represent a significant healthcare burden. Since the publication of two randomized trials that showed significant survival and palliative benefits for men treated with docetaxel, this drug has become the treatment of choice for patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Objective: This review discusses the development and current use of docetaxel in metastatic CRPC, as well as future clinical applications. Methods: The current literature, meeting abstracts and ClinicalTrials.gov have been reviewed. The most relevant studies involving patients with prostate cancer receiving therapy with docetaxel, alone or in combination with other agents, have been summarised. Conclusion: Docetaxel monotherapy is the approved treatment for patients with metastatic CRPC, and its association with other agents, such as targeted therapies, is currently under study. Several trials are currently ongoing to investigate the use of docetaxel in the early stages of disease, particularly in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings for patients with high-risk disease.

Keywords::

• adjuvant therapy
• docetaxel
• neoadjuvant therapy
• palliative therapy
• prostate cancer
• radio-sensitizer