Home | Doxycycline for prostate cancer
11 May 2021 - 2:18pm by Gladys12 December 2025 - 1:37pm by Gladys
Changes to Recruitment status
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Recruiting
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Complete
Changes to Key secondary outcomes
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Adverse events (according to the common terminology of criteria for adverse events (CTCAE version 3). Measurement time: every week until month 6. Change in the level of prostate-specific antigen at 6 months of treatment. Quality of life with the questionnaire EORTC QLQ-PR25 applied at the beginning and at 6 months of treatment.
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Adverse events (according to the common terminology of criteria for adverse events (CTCAE version 3). Measurement time: every week until month 6. Change in the level of prostate-specific antigen at 6 months of treatment. Quality of life and cognitive impairment were assessed with the EORTC QLQ-PR25 questionnaire and the Mini-Mental State Examination test, respectively, applied at baseline and 6 months after treatment.
Changes to Intervention(s)
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Intervention Experimental Group (group A): You will receive doxycycline 100 mg every 24 hours for 6 months, plus its standard treatment, which consists of bicalutamide 50 mg orally per day, and leuproline 22.5 mg in subcutaneous application every three months. This dose is less than the maximum previously recommended for chronic treatments such as acne conglobata. The commercial presentation for human use is in 100mg pills, so patients in the experimental group will take 1 pill every 24 hours.
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Intervention Experimental Group (group A): You will receive doxycycline 100 mg every 24 hours for 6 months, plus its standard treatment, which consists of bicalutamide 50 mg orally per day, and leuproline 22.5 mg in subcutaneous application every three months, in addition to docetaxel according to the oncologist's criteria. The doxycycline dose is less than the maximum previously recommended for chronic treatments such as acne conglobata. The commercial presentation for human use is in 100mg pills, so patients in the experimental group will take 1 pill every 24 hours.
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Control Group Intervention (group B): You will receive your standard treatment as indicated by current clinical practice (bicalutamide 50mg orally per day, and leuproline 22.5mg in subcutaneous application every three months), plus a bottle of placebo pills that your doctor will provide. monthly in his office with the indication to take 1 pill every 24 hours, for 6 months.
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Control Group Intervention (group B): You will receive your standard treatment as indicated by current clinical practice (bicalutamide 50mg orally per day, and leuproline 22.5mg in subcutaneous application every three months, in addition to docetaxel according to the oncologist's criteria), plus a bottle of placebo pills that your doctor will provide. monthly in his office with the indication to take 1 pill every 24 hours, for 6 months.
Changes to Inclusion criteria
 
1. Clinical and histological diagnosis of excised adenocarcinoma, locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer.
 
1. Clinical and histological diagnosis of excised adenocarcinoma, locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer.
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2. That the treating oncologist consider the patient with metastatic prostate cancer not a candidate for chemotherapy.
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2. Patients who accept, with informed consent, the administration of doxycycline or placebo, in a randomized system
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3. Patients with metastatic prostate cancer who do not want chemotherapy.
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4. Patients who accept, with informed consent, the administration of doxycycline or placebo, in a randomized system
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Changes to Record Verification Date
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2021/05/11
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2025/12/12
Changes to Next update date
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2022/05/11
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2026/12/12
Changes to Summary study
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Background/Objectives: Metastatic prostate cancer remains a major clinical challenge, with limited therapeutic options. Doxycycline, a tetracycline antibiotic with anti-inflammatory properties, has shown potential as an adjunctive therapy. This study aimed to evaluate its efficacy in reducing prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and improving quality of life in patients receiving standard treatment for metastatic prostate cancer. Methods: This phase II, double-blind, randomized controlled trial included 45 participants (aged 57–81 years) assigned to doxycycline (100 mg daily) or a placebo for six months. The primary outcome was the percentage change in PSA levels at 3 and 6 months. Secondary outcomes included quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination), and glucose levels. Additionally, a structure–activity relationship (SAR) analysis was performed through an extensive bibliographic review to identify pharmacophores responsible for doxycycline’s biological activity, particularly its tetracyclic core. The SAR analysis included tetracyclines and derivatives, androgen-targeting agents, and other pharmacologically relevant molecules used in prostate cancer therapy. Statistical analysis was conducted using multivariate logistic regression. Results: At six months, the doxycycline group showed a median PSA reduction of 60% compared to 10% in the placebo group (p = 0.043). A ≥50% reduction in PSA levels was observed in 71.4% of patients receiving doxycycline versus 20.8% in the placebo group (p = 0.001), with an adjusted relative risk of 10.309 (95% CI: 2.359–45.055, p = 0.002). Quality of life improved, with 7.1% of doxycycline-treated patients reporting poor quality of life compared to 42.9% in the placebo group (p = 0.028). A slight improvement in cognitive function was also noted (p = 0.037). SAR analysis suggested that the tetracyclic ring of doxycycline may play a crucial role in its observed biological effects. Conclusions: Doxycycline demonstrates potential as an adjunctive therapy in metastatic prostate cancer by reducing PSA levels and improving quality of life. The SAR analysis supports the hypothesis that its tetracyclic structure may be responsible for its therapeutic effects. Further large-scale trials are warranted to confirm these findings.
Changes to Url for Results File
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https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/17/4/404
Revision of 12 December 2025 - 1:37pm: