Combination regimens of paclitaxel and the platinum drugs as first-line regimens for ovarian cancer.
A platinum compound combined with paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) has supplanted a platinum compound and cyclophosphamide as standard chemotherapy in the United States for patients with previously untreated ovarian cancer. Numerous studies are under way to determine the optimal use of these drugs as first-line treatment. Among the critical issues being explored are the length of the paclitaxel infusion, the optimum number of cycles, and paclitaxel dose intensity. The Gynecologic Oncology Group is pursuing studies of paclitaxel and carboplatin, based on promising results from a phase I/II study. Carboplatin is equivalent to cisplatin in terms of efficacy, but has only myelosuppression as a dose-limiting toxicity. Other novel approaches being investigated in ongoing Gynecologic Oncology Group trials include an evaluation of interval debulking surgery as one arm of a trial in which patients with suboptimal stage III and IV disease are receiving paclitaxel/cisplatin.
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Division of Medical Science, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014481:United States
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018906:Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin