Comparison of weekly low dose docetaxel with the standard protocol in hormone-resistant metastatic prostate cancer

Objective: To evaluate and compare the effects and toxicity of weekly low dose with three weekly standard doses of docetaxel in hormone-resistant metastatic prostate cancer. Study Design: Descriptive study. Place and Duration of Study: University of Health Sciences, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, from January 2013 to July 2021. Methodology: The study was conducted on 79 patients with refractory prostate cancer. Patients were assessed in 2 groups. One group was treated with the classical standard Docetaxel dose 75 mg/m2/day (every 3-week) + Prednisolone 10 mg/day (daily), whereas the second group consisting of elderly and poor performance status received a low dose Docetaxel 25 mg/m2/day (weekly, 1-week interval) + Prednisolone 10 mg/day (daily). Results: The overall survival and toxicity profile differences between the low dose protocol in this study and the standard treatment protocol were compared. Survival times in both groups were found as 44.3 months and 35.5 months in 1-week and 3- week interval groups, respectively (p = 0.09). The rate of hematologic toxicity associated with systemic treatment was 10% in the 1-week interval treatment group and 41% in the 3-week group (p = 0.002). In particular, the febrile neutropenia was 30.8% in the 3-week interval group and 2.5% (p = 0.001) in the 1-week interval group. Conclusion: The study showed that instead of using docetaxel in the standard dose and range, it is more tolerated in elderly and poor performance patients when administered in the revised dose. The disrupting effects of chemotherapy are overperforming, especially in such patients. (author) Objective: To compare the HIV-related ocular manifestations between HAART-naïve (Highly active antiretroviral therapy) and HAART-treated patients. Study Design: Observational (comparative) Study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Ophthalmology and Family Care Centre of Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, Pakistan, from October 2019 to July 2021. Methodology: HIV-infected patients, who were receiving HAART treatment as well as HAART-naïve, were recruited. A complete ocular examination was performed to check for HIV-related ocular manifestations. Anterior and posterior segment findings were recorded and compared between the two groups. Results: Of the 80 participants (40 in each group), 62 (77.5%) were males and 18 (22.5) were females with no significant difference between the groups for either gender (p=1.0). A significant difference, between the two groups, was found in the mean duration (838.64 + 908.16 days) of HIV infection at the time of recruitment (p<0.001). HIV-related ocular manifestations were found in 6 (7.5%) with no statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=1.0). Similarly, the involvement of systemic co-infections was found in 6 (7.5%) with no statistically significant difference between the groups (p=0.675). Conclusion: There was no difference in both groups when analysed for HIV-related ocular manifestations or systemic co-infections. The authors' finding contradict with some of the previously published data. Therefore, it is recommended that further research should be carried out to reach definite conclusion. (author)