[Alternating combination chemotherapy (VIP-DMF) in patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the prostate].

Eleven patients with advanced adenocarcinoma of the prostate were treated with a cyclic alternating chemotherapy (VIP-DMF therapy), consisting of a three-drug combination of vincristine, ifosfamide, and peplomycin; and a three-drug combination of adriamycin, mitomycin C and 5-fluorouracil. Each cycle was repeated every 3 or 4 weeks. Of these patients, 9 were refractory to prior hormonal therapy and 8 (89%) achieved an objective response (3 partial, 6 stable) using the criteria of the U.S. National Prostatic Cancer Project. In the patients showing objective response, the duration was from 3 to 18 months with a median duration of 6 months. The survival periods from the initiation of chemotherapy in effective cases ranged from 6 to 20+ months with a median duration of 11 months. The major toxicity was myelosuppression, although no patients suffered life-threatening toxicity. We consider that VIP-DMF therapy is a useful regimen for the treatment of advanced prostatic cancer.