title: Suramin in advanced platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
abstract: 10 patients with ovarian cancer, whose disease had progressed while receiving platinum-based therapy, were entered onto a phase II clinical trial of the antiproliferative agent suramin. Suramin was administered in a fashion that is associated with durable objective disease response in patients with hormonally resistant metastatic prostate cancer. No individual had an objective response to therapy in this study, but 3 of 9 evaluable patients (33%) experienced disease stabilisation and subjective clinical improvement for periods ranging from 2 to 5 months. Disease stabilisation was associated with prolonged periods of comparatively high plasma levels of drug, which appeared to be determined primarily by reduced drug clearance. We conclude that suramin has potential activity in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, and we have initiated a second clinical trial using pharmacological information derived from this study.
authors.affiliation: Medicine Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: LaRocca
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bostick-Bruton
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013498:Suramin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013498:Suramin; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin