Digoxin for Recurrent Prostate Cancer

This is a pilot phase II, open labeled single center study to assess the efficacy of digoxin
on inhibiting PCa progression as measured by PSADT. The participants will take study drug
digoxin, which is approved by FDA for the treatment of CHF, 125 or 250 mcg orally daily,
titrated to the level of 0.8 - 2 ng/ml for total of 6 cycles (4 weeks/cycle). The lower dose
of digoxin (such as 125 mcg/day) will be chosen if serum level reaches 0.8 ng/ml already.
Patients may continue another 6 cycles if evident of clinical benefit.

Inclusion Criteria:

- There must be a confirmed biochemical progression. Biochemical progression is
defined as three rises in PSA levels, with each PSA determined at least 4 weeks
apart, and each PSA value increase >0.2 ng/ml.

- Baseline PSA must be determined within 4 weeks of study entry. At least 3 PSA values
are necessary prior to the study entry to calculate PSA doubling time (PSADT)
calculator.

- Men with history of radical prostatectomy are required to have baseline PSA >1 ng/ml.
Men treated with primary radiation therapy are required to have baseline PSA>2 ng/ml
and greater than 150% rise from postradiation nadir.

- PSA doubling time must be between 6 and 24 months.

- All treatments including intermittent hormonal therapy must have been discontinued
for > 6 months prior to study entry.

- No clinical or radiological evidence of distant metastases

- ECOG < 2 and adequate organ function

- Men with history of radical prostatectomy are required to have baseline PSA >1 ng/ml.
Men treated with primary radiation therapy are required to have baseline PSA>2 ng/ml
and greater than 150% rise from postradiation nadir

- Baseline PSA must be determined within 4 weeks of study entry. At least 3 PSA values
are necessary to calculate PSA doubling time via PSADT calculator at:
http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/applications/nomograms/PSADoublingTime.aspx. PSA doubling
time must be between 6 and 24 months.

- All previous local modalities of treatment, including radiation and surgery, must
have been discontinued at least 8 weeks prior to treatment in this study. Patients
may have received prior systemic chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biologic or vaccine
therapy. All systemic treatments must have been discontinued for > 6 months prior to
study entry.

- Patients receiving intermittent hormonal therapy for their rising PSA state are
considered eligible if testosterone level is above 150ng/dl and treatment was
discontinued > 6 months and agree not to have additional injections while on study
drug.

- No clinical or radiological evidence of distant metastases (excluding prostascint
scan/PET in absence of radiographic disease in Bone scan, CT scan or MRI if used).
Lymph node up to 2 cm size is allowed for the study.

- ECOG < 2 or Karnofsky Performance status >70% within 14 days before being registered
for protocol therapy (Appendix B)

- Normal organ function with acceptable initial laboratory values:

- Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1 x 109/L

- Platelets > 50 x 109/L

- Creatinine <1.5 mg/dL

- Bilirubin <1.5 X ULN (institutional upper limits of normal)

- AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) ≤ 1.5 x ULN

- Willingness to use adequate methods of contraception throughout study participation
and for at least 3 months after completing therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

- Metastatic disease or currently active second malignancy

- History of Sinus Node Disease and AV Block, Accessory AV Pathway
(Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome), history of Acute Myocardial Infarction.

- Electrolyte imbalance (hypokalemia, hypo- or hypercalcemia, hypomagnesemia)

- Severe pulmonary disease and hypoxia

- Medical conditions such as uncontrolled hypertension, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus,
active infectious hepatitis, type A, B or C, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, which
would, in the opinion of the investigator, make this protocol unreasonably hazardous.

- Major thoracic or abdominal surgery within the prior 3 weeks.

- Patients with GI tract disease resulting in an inability to take oral medication,
malabsorption syndrome, a requirement for IV alimentation, prior surgical procedures
affecting absorption, uncontrolled inflammatory GI disease (e.g., Crohn's,
ulcerative colitis).

- Use of any prohibited concomitant medications: The washout period is at least 2 weeks
before starting the study.

- Insufficient time from last prior regimen or radiation exposure: Systemic therapies
for prostate cancer within 28 days prior to digoxin; strontium-89 within 12 weeks;
bicalutamide within 6 weeks.

- Persistent Grade >2 treatment-related toxicity from prior therapy

- History of any digoxin-related or drug induced anaphylactic reaction

- Receipt of another investigational agent within 6 months of study entry. Patient must
have recovered from all side effects of prior investigational therapy.