Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Refractory Stage IV Prostate Cancer

Current therapies for Refractory Stage IV Prostate Cancer provide very limited benefit to the patient. The anti-cancer properties of Antineoplaston therapy suggest that it may prove beneficial in the treatment of Refractory Stage IV Prostate Cancer.

PURPOSE: This study is being performed to determine the effects (good and bad) that Antineoplaston therapy has on patients with Refractory Stage IV Prostate Cancer.

Refractory Stage IV Prostate Cancer patients receive gradually escalating doses of intravenous Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal) until the maximum tolerated dose is reached. Treatment continues up to 12 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

OBJECTIVES:

* To determine the efficacy of Antineoplaston therapy in patients with Refractory Stage IV Prostate Cancer, as measured by an objective response to therapy (complete response, partial response or stable disease).
* To determine the safety and tolerance of Antineoplaston therapy in patients with Refractory Stage IV Prostate Cancer.
* To determine objective response, tumor size is measured utilizing MRI scans, which are performed every 8 weeks for the first two years, every 3 months for the third and fourth years, every 6 months for the 5th and sixth years, and annually thereafter.

Eligibility Criteria:
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

* Histologically confirmed incurable stage IV adenocarcinoma of the prostate that failed to respond to treatment with antineoplaston A10 and AS2-1 capsules and for which no curative therapy exists

  * Evidence of tumor by MRI or CT scan
* No prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response to antiandrogen withdrawal
* If PSA changes used to indicate progressive disease, then PSA must increase more than 50% on two determinations at least 2 weeks apart

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

* 18 and over

Performance status:

* Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

* At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

* Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL
* WBC at least 2000/mm\^3
* Platelet count at least 50,000/mm\^3

Hepatic:

* No hepatic insufficiency
* Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
* SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

* Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL
* No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

* No known chronic heart failure
* No uncontrolled hypertension
* No history of congestive heart failure
* No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Pulmonary:

* No serious lung disease, such as severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Other:

* Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study participation
* Not a high medical or psychiatric risk
* No concurrent nonmalignant systemic disease that would preclude therapy
* No active infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered

Chemotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered

Endocrine therapy:

* See Disease Characteristics
* At least 4 weeks since prior hormonal therapy and recovered
* Concurrent corticosteroids allowed if dose is stable or decreasing

Radiotherapy:

* At least 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered

Surgery:

* Recovered from prior surgery

Other:

* Prior cytodifferentiating agents allowed