Salvage mitomycin/5-fluorouracil after platinum-based therapy for women with advanced ovarian cancer and related gynecologic malignancies.
OBJECTIVE
to determine response rates, survival, and toxicity of a regimen of mitomycin-C and 5-fluorouracil in patients previously treated with platinum-based combinations for ovarian cancer and related gynecologic malignancies.


METHODS
retrospective chart review of all cases of persistent or recurrent ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal carcinoma treated with mitomycin-C 7 mg/m2 followed by continuous infusion of 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m2/day over 4 days.


RESULTS
26 patients were treated after a median of 2 prior platinum-based regimens, 22 with ovarian cancer, 3 with peritoneal cancer, and one with fallopian tube cancer. Only 2 patients completed 6 or more cycles. 2 patients had partial responses (8%); no complete responses were seen. 24 patients died a median of 3 months after the initiation of therapy, while 2 patients were alive 4 and 8 months after beginning therapy. All deaths were attributable to disease, not complications of treatment. 8 patients required dose modification or treatment delay for toxicity. Nine patients required a total of 11 unscheduled admissions.


CONCLUSIONS
toxicity attributable to mitomycin-C/5-fluorouracil therapy of ovarian cancer is acceptable, but responses are few. More effective alternative should be sought.
Massad
L S
LS
Section for Gynecologic Oncology, Rush Medical College, Chicago.
Wagley
E
E
Winkelman
L
L
Lincoln
S
S
Yordan
E L
EL
de Geest
K
K
Wilbanks
G D
GD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005185:Fallopian Tube Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D008937:Mitomycins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D017211:Treatment Failure
D008937:Mitomycins; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D005472:Fluorouracil