title: Four-year analysis of platinum and anthracycline combination for ovarian cancer.
abstract: Eighty-nine patients with advanced ovarian cancer have been treated with a combination of cis-platinum (50 mg/m2) + an anthracycline (adriamycin 50 mg/m2 in 26 patients, or epirubicin 60 mg/m2 in 63 patients). The treatment was repeated every 28 days for a maximum of 12 cycles. Seventy-nine were evaluable for response. CR was achieved in 19 (24%) patients (2 clinical and 17 after a second-look evaluation) and a PR in 31 (39%) for an estimated median duration of 43 and 10 months, respectively. Nine patients who achieved CR and 2 out of 10 non-evaluable patients were alive without any evidence of disease after a median follow-up of 36 months (range 29-53). The treatment was generally well tolerated. The multivariate actuarial 4-year analysis by Cox's proportional hazards model shows that residual tumor and performance status have an independent prognostic value on survival. The combination of CP + an anthracycline (and in particular epirubicin) is an effective and generally well tolerated treatment for ovarian cancer. Only patients with initial minimal residual disease and achieving CR are candidates for long-term survival.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Divison, St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martoni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellucco
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Canova
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pannuti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin