Researchers affiliated with the SPARC (Satraplatin and Prednisone Against Refractory Disease) trial reported that oral satraplatin is well tolerated and effective for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer. The details of this Phase III placebo controlled study were presented at the 2007 meeting of the American Urological Association  in May.

Satraplatin is a third generation platinum compound which is currently awaiting approval by the US Food and Drug Administration. The current study randomly allocated 950 men with metastatic prostate cancer who had failed one prior chemotherapy regimen to receive satraplatin, an anti-emetic and prednisone or a placebo, an anti-emetic and prednisone. These authors reported that patients receiving satraplatin had a 40% reduction in disease progression. Median progression-free survival was 11 weeks compared to 9.7 weeks in the control group. They also reported that patients in the satraplatin group had better pain relief and a greater PSA response rate. The median time to pain progression was 66 weeks in the satraplatin group and 22 weeks in the control group. After 6 months, 30% of the satraplatin and 17% of the placebo group had not progressed; and at 12 months, nonprogression was 16% and 7%, respectively. The most common adverse effects of satraplatin were thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which were generally mild to moderate. These authors concluded that satraplatin had significant palliative activity in patients with refractory hormone independent prostate cancer.  

Comments: One of the major advantages of satraplatin is that it can be given orally and still provide significant palliation.

References: Sartor O, Sternberg C, Witjes JA, et al.  Satraplatin significantly improves progression free survival (PFS) and pain control in  patients with advanced hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC): Preliminary results from the phase III SPARC trial. Proceedings of the 2007 meeting of the American Urological Association; Abstract #1014. http://www.abstracts2view.com/aua/authorindex.php

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