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Comparative Study of the Clinical Efficacy of Two Dosing Regimens of Flutamide

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For Our Fathers

J. Brantley Thrasher1, Jeoffrey Deeths2, Charles Bennett3, Padmini Iyer4, Martin K. Dineen5, Suoping Zhai6, William D. Figg7 and David G. McLeod8

1Section of Urology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas; 2Nebraska Clinical Research Center, Omaha, Nebraska; 3Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois; 4Section of Hematology/Oncology, Long Beach VA Medical Center, Long Beach, California; 5Atlantic Urological Association; 6,7National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, 8Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC.

Welcome to the Prostate Cancer Education Council's Article Series: 2000 website.

Below is the sixth in a series of six articles written by a select panel of distinguished urologists from across the nation. A new article will appear each month and address topics related to advancements in prostate cancer treatment, research, and prevention. Informative sidebars will accompany each segment, along with highlighted technical vocabulary hyperlinked to a prostate cancer glossary, creating an easily digestible format for consumers.

The series is presented on behalf of the Prostate Cancer Education Council (PCEC). Founded in 1988, the PCEC is a consortium of physicians, health educators, scientists, and patient advocates dedicated to increasing prostate cancer awareness and knowledge.

This article is provided by Dr. J. Brantley Thrasher, William L. Valk Distinguished Professor and Chairman of the Section of Urology at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas. He is also the current Co-Director of the operating room at the University of Kansas.

Dr. Thrasher is a member of the Executive Board of the Society of Urologic Oncology, a member of the American Joint Committee on Cancer as a representative of the Society of Urologic Oncology, and a consultant to the American Urologic Association's Public Media Committee. He is also a member of numerous subspecialty societies, including the American Urologic Association, the American College of Surgeons, the Society for Basic Urologic Research, and the Society of University Urologists.

Dr. Thrasher completed a fellowship in his sub-specialty of expertise, Urologic Oncology, at Duke University. He has published numerous manuscripts covering multiple urologic cancers and his basic urologic research is centered on growth factors and the regulation of prostate cancer growth. Dr. Thrasher is also a principal investigator or collaborator in several ongoing clinical oncology trials.

ABSTRACT

    Background: We performed a prospective randomized trial to compare the efficacy and toxicity of a new dose (500 mg QD) of flutamide (FLT) to the currently recommended dose (250 mg q8h) in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Primary endpoints used for comparisons were percent of patients normalizing PSA, time to normalization and percent changes from baseline. Secondary endpoints were quality of life (QOL) and toxicity differences.
    Methods: From July 1995 to October 1999, 440 men aged 46-94 years (mean 71 years) were randomized to receive either 500 mg QD FLT or 250 mg q8h + medical or surgical castration for 3 months. Patients were included with confirmed M1 disease, documented PSA recurrence, ECOG status 0-2, PSA >0.2 ng/mL, no second neoplasm, no LFTs >1.5x normal and no previous treatment. Laboratory values, toxicity and QOL were evaluated at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12 with bone scans evaluated at screening and week 12. Pharmacokinetic data were collected from 30 men at 7:00 AM prior to their first dose of medication. Serum flutamide and 2-hydroxyflutamide levels were measured and compared between the two groups.
    Results: Two hundred twenty-five patients were randomized to the 500 mg QD arm and 215 to the 250 mg q8h arm. No differences were noted in mean age, race, severity of disease, baseline PSA level, or ECOG status between the two groups. PSA changes were not significantly different, 71% of the 500 mg patients and 75% of the 250 mg normalized their PSA by week 12 and percent change was 89% and 96%, respectively. The treatment groups were not significantly different with respect to incidence of adverse events with 71% vs 68% in the 500 mg and 250 mg arm, respectively (p=0.337).
    The mean post-dosing sample size (sample obtained just prior to next dose) was 11 hours for the 250 mg q8h dosing regimen and 25.7 hours for the 500 QD dosing regimen. The mean plasma concentration of 2-hydroxyflutamide for the 250 mg q8h dose (0.88 µg/mL) was higher than that for the 500 mg QD dose (0.41 µg/mL).
    Conclusions: Five hundred mg of FLT when combined with castration appears to be equally effective in lowering serum PSA and is not significantly more toxic than conventional FLT dosing. The use of 500 mg QD instead of the standard 250 mg q8h would result in a cost savings of 30%.


INTRODUCTION

 
  • A single 500 mg dose of flutamide may result in a longer half-life of the drug, though comparative dosing studies have not been performed.
  • The biological half-life of flutamide and its active metabolite 2-hydroxyflutamide may be very different than the serum of these agents.
  • Patients are only 40% compliant with a thrice-daily dosing schedule of any drug, but are 83% compliant with BID and 90% compliant with QD dosing.
  • The objective of this trial was to compare two doses of flutamide based on PSA response with secondary endpoints of quality-of-life and toxicity differences.

  •  

        The original pharmacokinetics studies performed in humans on oral flutamide and its active metabolite 2-hydroxyflutamide suggested that the elimination half-life of 2-hydroxyflutamide was 4 to 6.6 hours and 8 to 22 hours after a single oral dose of 250 and 500 mgs of flutamide, respectively, in patients with prostate cancer.1 Although this early study suggested that a single 500 mg dose of flutamide may result in a longer half-life of the drug, comparative dosing studies have not been performed. More recent data from animal studies suggests that the biological half-life of flutamide and its active metabolite 2-hydroxyflutamide may be quite different than the serum half-life of these agents. In rats, the prostate continues to respond to a dose of flutamide for up to 96 hours.2 Furthermore, data from geriatric volunteers suggests that patients are only 40% compliant with a thrice daily dosing schedule of any drug but are 83% compliant with BID and 90% compliant with QD dosing.

        This data led to the development of a prospective randomized trial comparing the efficacy and toxicity of a new dose (500 mg QD) of flutamide to the currently recommended dose, 250 mg q8h, in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. The objective of this trial was to compare two doses of flutamide based on PSA response with secondary endpoints of quality-of-life and toxicity differences.

    MATERIALS AND METHODS

     
  • From mid 1995 to late 1999, 440 men with an average age of 71 years were randomized to receive either 500 mg QD FLT or 250 mg q8h + medical or surgical castration for 3 months.
  • Patients excluded from this trial included those with hepatic or renal disease, known hypersensitivity to drugs, metastatic prostate cancer to the CNS or evidence of spinal cord compression.

  •  
        From July 1995 to October 1999, 440 men aged 46-94 years (mean 71 years) were randomized to receive either 500 mg QD of flutamide or 250 mg q8h plus medical or surgical castration for three months. Patients were required to be >40 years of age with de novo M+ or N+ prostate cancer or stage T1-T4 with biochemical evidence of progression defined as a PSA >0.5 ng/mL (for baseline PSA < 2 ng/mL, 3 serial PSA elevations a minimum of two weeks apart after nadir had been reached; for baseline PSA >2 ng/mL, 2 serial PSA elevations a minimum of two weeks apart after nadir had been reached) following definitive therapy (radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy). All patients were required to have a life expectancy of at least one year, an ECOG performance status of 0-2, no prior treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, able to read and understand English, and able to give informed consent. Patients were excluded from the trial with hepatic or renal disease, known hypersensitivity to study drugs, metastatic prostate cancer to the CNS or evidence of spinal cord compression, LFTs > 1.5x normal, creatinine > 2 x normal, WBC < 3000 cells/mm3, hematocrit <30%, platelet count <100,000 mm3, any other active malignancy except nonmelanomatous skin cancer, any other investigational drug used within 30 days of the screening visit, or finasteride within two weeks of the screening visit. Follow-up visits were performed at weeks 0, 4, 8 and 12 (Table I).

    Pharmacokinetics Data

     
  • Pharmacokinetics testing was done on a subpopulation of patients from Madigan Army Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

  •  
        Pharmacokinetics testing was done on a small subpopulation of patients who agreed to participate from two institutions, Madigan Army Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. A total of 30 patients gave informed consent for serum samples at 7:00 AM prior to their first morning dose. 2-hydroxyflutamide plasma concentrations were then determined by high performance liquid chromatography using a modification of a published method.3 In brief, 3 ml methylene chloride were added to 0.5 cc of plasma and vortexed for 60 seconds. The samples were centrifuged at 3,000 rpm for 15 minutes at 4oC. The aqueous phase was removed and the organic layer decanted into glass tubes and evaporated to dryness under nitrogen. The sample was reconstituted with 200 µl mobile phase and vortexed. One hundred and fifty microliters was injected into a Water C18 uBondapak column. The mobile phase was methanol:water 60:40 (v/v) with a flow rate of 1 ml/min. 2-hydroxyflutamide had a eluting time of 4 min and was detected using ultraviolet absorbance at 280 nm. The peak area was used for quantification against an external standard of 2-hydroxyflutamide in methanol. The assay has a lower limit of detection of 0.03 µg/mL.

    Statistical Methods

     
  • All between-group comparisons used two-tailed test procedures; the groups were compared with respect to age, baseline PSA and baseline quality of life measurements using Analysis of Variance and with respect to race (% of Caucasian patients) and baseline PSA (% of patients with normal PSA) using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests.
  • Percent of patients with normal PSA, change from baseline PSA, percent change from baseline PSA, general quality of life, and urinary quality of life were each measured at weeks 4, 8, and 12.

  •  
        All between-group comparisons used two-tailed test procedures, with a 0.05 level of significance (a=0.05) to test a null hypothesis of no difference between the treatment groups (500 QD, 250 q8h). The groups were compared with respect to age, baseline PSA and baseline quality of life measurements using Analysis of Variance and with respect to race (% Caucasian patients) and baseline PSA (% of patients with normal PSA) using Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests. The following efficacy endpoints were measured at weeks 4, 8 and 12:
      - percent of patients with normal PSA
      - change from baseline PSA
      - percent change from baseline PSA
      - general quality of life
      - urinary quality of life
        Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests were used for the analyses of percent of patients with normal PSA. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used for the analyses of change and percent change from baseline PSA. Analysis of Variance was used to compare the treatment groups with respect to quality-of-life measurements.

    RESULTS

     
  • When 225 patients were randomized to the 500 mg QD arm and 215 to the 250 mg q8h arm, no differences were noted in the mean age, race, severity of disease, baseline PSA level, or ECOG status between the two groups.
  • One-hundred-ninety-one patients in the 500 mg QD arm and 197 in the 250 mg q8h arm had complete information and were available for comparison at the end of the study.
  • The treatment groups were not substantially different with respect to incidence of adverse events, which were categorized as possibly, probably, or definitely related to study drug with 71% reporting at least one event in the 500 mg arm and 68% reporting at least one event in the 250 mg arm (p=0.337).

  •  
        Two hundred and twenty-five patients were randomized to the 500 mg QD arm and 215 to the 250 mg q8h arm. One hundred and ninety-one patients in the 500 mg QD arm and 197 in the 250 mg q8h arm had complete information and were available for comparison at the end of the study. The list of reasons for patients who were excluded from the analysis (including patients who withdrew from the trial with no PSA information and patients who had missing PSA information at baseline) is outlined in Table II. The majority of laboratory abnormalities were mild elevation of transaminases while the toxicities were primarily diarrhea. No differences were noted in the mean age, race, ECOG performance status, severity of disease or baseline PSA levels between the two groups (Table III). PSA changes were not significantly different, 71% of the 500 mg patients and 75% of the 250 mg normalized their PSA by week 12 and percent change was 89% and 96%, respectively (Table IV). The treatment groups were not significantly different with respect to the incidence of adverse events, which were categorized as possibly, probably, or definitely related to the study drug with 71% reporting at least one event in the 500 mg arm and 68% reporting at least one event in the 250 mg arm (p=0.337) (Table V). No significant differences were noted between the two groups with regard to any of the QOL domains.

    Pharmacokinetics

     
  • The mean post-dosing sample size (sample obtained just prior to next dose) was 11 hours for the 250 mg q8h dosing regimen and 25.7 hours for the 500 QD dosing regimen.

  •  
        The minimum steady-state plasma concentrations of 2-hydroxyflutamide for 30 patients are listed in Table VI. The mean post-dosing sampling time (sample obtained just prior to next dose) was 11 hours for the 250 mg q8h dose level and 25.7 hours for the 500 mg QD dose level. The mean plasma concentration of 2-hydroxyflutamide for the 250 mg q8h dose level (0.88 ug/ml) was higher than that for the 500 mg QD dose level (0.41 µg/mL).

    DISCUSSION

     
  • Heretofore, there have been no studies comparing variable doses of FLT for advanced prostate cancer.
  • When combined with castration, 500 mg of FLT appears to be equally effective in lowering serum PSA and is not much more toxic than conventional FLT dosing.
  • The reduction of cost associated with 500 mg QD dosing vs. 250 mg q8h is significant; the use of four capsules per day vs. six per day reduces the cost by 30%.

  •  
        Heretofore, there have been no studies comparing variable doses of FLT for advanced prostate cancer. Recent animal data suggesting the biological half-life of the drug may be quite different than the serum half-life led to the development of this trial. Our data suggests 500 mg QD of FLT combined with castration is equally effective in lowering serum PSA when compared to conventional FLT dosing. Previous studies have brought into question the use of PSA as a surrogate endpoint primarily because PSA differences were noted between comparison arms early in the trial but this did not equate to differences in survival.4 Our data revealed no significant differences between comparison groups in PSA changes and, thus, we would not expect differences in survival after long-term follow-up. However, only long-term follow-up will definitely answer the question. Equally important in this trial was the question of differences in toxicities with 500 mg QD FLT compared to conventional dosing. We found no significant differences between the two groups relative to toxicities. Diarrhea was slightly more common in the 500 mg QD arm at 18% compared with 14% in the 250 mg q8h arm, although the difference was not significant. However, these data may shed some light on the etiology of diarrhea in patients receiving flutamide. Our study suggests the diarrhea is due to peak serum levels of the drug since the 500 mg QD patients experienced a higher incidence of the side effect. Finally, a significant benefit of 500 mg QD dosing vs 250 mg q8h is a reduction in cost. The use of 4 capsules per day vs 6 capsules reduces the cost by 30%. This would make flutamide used in combination therapy the least expensive nonsteroidal antiandrogen presently available in the United States.

    ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

    • Mitchell C. Benson, M.D., Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center
    • L. Dean Knoll, M.D., Center for Urological Treatment and Research
    • Roy Berger, M.D., North Shore Hematology-Oncology Associates PC
    • Nabil Bissada, M.D., Professor of Urology, MUSC, Hollings Cancer Center
    • Stanley Brosman, M.D., Santa Monica Urological Group
    • Seck Chan, M.D., Pan Pacific Research
    • Robert Feldman, M.D., Urology Specialists, PC
    • John Forrest, M.D., Urologic Specialists of Oklahoma Research Center
    • Wallace Gibbons, M.D., Wenatchee Valley Clinic
    • Marc Gittelman, M.D., South Florida Medical Research
    • Michael D. Bagg, M.D., William Beaumont Army Medical Center
    • Perry B. Hudson, M.D., Department of Veterans Affairs - Bay Pines, FL
    • James Roberts, M.D., San Diego Navy Medical Center
    • Thomas Keane, M.D., Emory Clinic-Winship Cancer Center
    • Alee S. Koo, M.D., Western Clinical Research, Inc.
    • Leo Kusuda, M.D. (P.I.), Portsmouth Naval Medical Center
    • James McMurray, M.D., Medical Affiliated Research Center
    • Glen Mills, M.D., LSU Medical Center
    • Bill See, M.D., University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
    • Douglas Soderdahl, M.D., Eisenhower Army Medical Center
    • Christopher Steidle, M.D., Northcast Indiana Urology
    • Martha Terris, M.D., Palo Alto Veterans Administration Health Care System

    Please address all correspondence to:

      J. Brantley Thrasher, M.D.
      Valk Professor and Chairman
      Section of Urology
      University of Kansas Medical Center
      3901 Rainbow Boulevard
      Kansas City, KS 66160-7390
      Phone (913) 588-6152
      Fax (913) 588-7625
      E-mail bthrasher@kumc.edu

    REFERENCES

    1. Schulz M, Schmoldt A, Donn F, Becker H. The pharmacokinetics of flutamide and its major metabolites after a single oral dose and during chronic treatment. Eur J Clin Pharmacol. 1988;34(6):633-36.
    2. Personal communication - F. Labrie.
    3. Asade RH, Prizont L, Muino JP, Tessler J. Steady-state hydroxyflutamide plasma levels after the administration of two dosage forms of flutamide. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 1991;27(5):401-405.
    4. Eisenberger MA, Blumenstein BA, Crawford ED, et al. Bilateral orchiectomy with or without flutamide for metastatic prostate cancer. N Eng J Med. 1998;339(15):1036-42.
    Table I. Study Calendar (back to article)
      Screening* Time 0** Wk4 Wk 8 Wk 12
    Physical          
    History/physical/neuro exam          
      Weight, vital signs x x x x x
    ECOG performance rating          
      Bone pain scale   x x x x
      Toxicity notation   x x x x
               
    Laboratory/Tests          
      CBC x x x x x
      Creatinine x x x x x
      SGOT/SGPT/bilirubin x x x x x
      Alkaline phosphatase   x     x
      PSA x x x x x
      Serum testosterone   x     x
      Bone scans x       x
               
    Quality of Life!          
      Patient   x x x x
     
    *Pre-study
    **Point at which treatment is initiated, is considered (Time 0)
    ! HR-QOL questionnaire - EORTC instrument
    Table II: List of Reasons for Discontinuation* and Missing PSA Values at Baseline (back to article)
    Reason 500 QD
    (n=34)
    250 q8h
    (n=18)
    Discontinuation* 26 8
      AE: lab abnormality 4 3
      AE: toxicity 3 1
      AE: other 9 1
      Disease progression 1 0
      Failure to return 2 0
      Protocol violation 2 2
      Other 5 1
    Missing PSA information at Baseline 8 10
    *No PSA information
    Table III. Demographic and Disease Characteristics (back to article)
    Characteristic 500 QD>
    (n=225)
    250 q8h
    (n=215)
    p-value
    Age     0.342
      Mean + S.D 71.5+8.14 70.7+7.94  
      Median 72 71  
      Range 48-89 46-94  
     
    Race     0.512
      Caucasian 156 (69.3%) 154 (71.6%)  
      Black 54 (24.0%) 50 (23.3%)  
      Asian 6 (2.7%) 3 (1.4%)  
      Hispanic 8 (3.6%) 5 (2.3%)  
      Other 1 (0.4%) 3 (1.4%)  
     
    ECOG Performance Status     0.938
      Missing 0 (0.0%) 1 (0.5%)  
      Normal activity 139 (61.8%) 132 (61.4%)  
      Light work 65 (28.9%) 62 (28.8%)  
      No work 21 ( 9.3%) 20 ( 9.3 %)  
    Table IV: Percent Change from Baseline PSA (back to article)
    Week 500 QD 250 q8h p-value
           
    Week 4 (n=203) (n=197)  
      Mean + S.D. -85.3 + 26.3 -86.9 + 25.4 0.278
      Median -93.0 -94.0  
      Range (-100,89) (-100,134)  
           
    Week 8 (n=191) (n=189)  
      Mean + S.D. -91.1 + 26.7 -94.5 + 15.4 0.200
      Median -98.0 -98.0  
      Range (-100,129) (-100,44)  
           
    Week 12 (n=191) (n=197)  
      Mean + S.D. -88.9 + 40.6 -95.7+13.1 0.092
      Median -99.0 -99.0  
      Range (-100,219) (-100,35)  
    Table V. Incidence of Adverse Events (back to article)
    Adverse Event 500 QD
    (n=225)
    250 q8h
    (n=215)
    p-value
    Hot flushes 78 (34.7%) 78 (36.3%) 0.737
    Diarrhea 41 (18.2%) 31 (14.4%) 0.245
    Anemia 20 ( 8.9%) 20 ( 9.3%) 0.949
    Nausea 17 ( 7.6%) 21 ( 9.8%) 0.444
    SGOT increased 20 ( 8.9%) 17 ( 7.9%) 0.772
    Fatigue 11 ( 4.9%) 18 ( 8.4%) 0.108
    Constipation 10 ( 4.4%) 7 ( 3.3%) 0.494
    Vomiting 8 ( 3.6%) 9 ( 4.2%) 0.614
    Pain 10 ( 4.4%) 3 ( 1.4%) 0.053
    Urinary tract infection 5 ( 2.2%) 8 ( 3.7%) 0.353
    Bone pain 7 ( 3.1%) 6 ( 2.8%) 0.848
    Insomnia 4 ( 1.8%) 7 ( 3.3%) 0.380
    Dizziness 7 ( 3.1%) 3 ( 1.4%) 0.206
    Table VI. Pharmacokinetics Data for a Subset of 30 Patients (back to article)
    Dose Number Postdose(h) Conc.(ng/ml) Dose Number Postdose(h) Conc.(ng/ml)
                   
    250 mg QD       500 mg QD      
    (n=14) 38013 10.5 1642 (n=16) 38016 25.5 214
      38014 11.75 237   38019 20.75 574
      38017 9.25 835   38023 24.75 261
      38018 6.73 907   38024 27 1596
      38021 9.5 1169   38025 25.66 448
      38026 12.5 1200   38028 -- 449
      38027 21.25 741   3871 24.25 172
      38029 11.25 1088   3875 26.33 405
      3869 9 790   38001 27.7 173
      3867 10 283   38002 26 152
      38004 10.75 405   38003 26.58 752
      38005 12.25 873   38007 25.67 155
      38008 9.92 1237   38006