Study of Patupilone in Prostate Cancer Patients Who Progress After Hormone Therapy and Docetaxel Chemotherapy

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed and the second most common cause of cancer death in men in North America (Jemal 2003). Many patients with localized disease have an excellent long-term survival and high cure rates with standard approaches (D'Amico 1998). However, patients with high risk, locally advanced and metastatic disease have a poor prognosis, and although hormonal therapy in the form of medical or surgical castration can induce significant long-term remissions,development of androgen independent disease is inevitable. Androgen independent (AI) disease, also termed hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC), is clinically detected by a rise in prostate specific antigen (PSA) and worsening of symptoms. Once patients reach this stage, therapeutic options are limited and prognosis is poor Patients with hormone refractory prostate cancer after docetaxel chemotherapy have limited treatment options and no treatment has been proven to be efficacious. Because of the mechanism of action and the activity of anti-microtubule agents and combinations in general for HRPC, patupilone has potential for therapeutic activity in patients with HRPC that have progressed after first line docetaxel chemotherapy.