title: Speed of response to platinum-based chemotherapy: implications for the management of epithelial ovarian cancer.
abstract: Seventy-nine patients with evaluable epithelial ovarian cancer following primary laparotomy and treated with one of three primary cis-platinum-containing regimens were studied to determine the rate at which clinical cytoreduction occurred and whether a rapid response to treatment was of prognostic significance by improving progression free interval (PFI) or survival. A rapid response to treatment improved PFI in patients treated with single agent cis-platinum (P = 0.04) and increased survival in patients treated with a sequential cis-platinum based combination regimen (P = 0.03). The rate of cytoreduction was not a significant variable, however, in a multiple regression analysis of prognostic factors. Over 75% of all clinical responses, regardless of the regimen, had begun by the completion of the third course of chemotherapy. We conclude that response to active chemotherapy is a rapid phenomenon in ovarian cancer and this has important implications in both the decision to change drug therapy and the timing of further surgical effort.
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D001761:Bleomycin; D002699:Chlorambucil; D014747:Vinblastine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D002945:Cisplatin