title: Pilot study with fixed-dose carboplatin and escalating paclitaxel in advanced ovarian cancer.
abstract: A dose-finding study was performed in 27 ovarian cancer patients to define the maximum tolerated dose of a 3-hour infusion of paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) in combination with a fixed dose of carboplatin. The median age of the patients was 55 years (age range, 30 to 74 years), the median performance status was 0 (range, 0 to 2), and the sizes of tumors residual to first surgery were identified as > or = 1 cm (14 patients) or less than 1 cm (13 patients). All patients received carboplatin at a fixed dose of 300 mg/m2 over 1 hour. Paclitaxel was administered as a 3-hour infusion at five dose levels, starting at 150 mg/m2 and increasing in 25 mg/m2 increments to 250 mg/m2. In the absence of toxicity, courses were repeated every 4 weeks for a total of six cycles. Mild emesis, general alopecia, and moderate myalgias occurred. Hypersensitivity and cardiotoxicity were observed in 7.4% and 14.8% of patients, respectively. Moderate peripheral neuropathy was experienced by 30% of patients. Grade 3 and 4 neutropenia lasted less than 7 days; no patients required hospitalization for sepsis or febrile neutropenia, and no supportive treatment with granulocyte/granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor was needed. Twenty-one patients were evaluable for response. Overall response rate (complete response+partial response) was 81%, and responses were observed at all paclitaxel dose levels. The maximum tolerated dose was not achieved. In conclusion, with a fixed dose (300 mg/m2) of carboplatin, paclitaxel can be administered by 3-hour infusion at 250 mg/m2 with manageable toxicity and no supportive care is needed.
authors.affiliation: I Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bolis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel