Salvage chemotherapy with paclitaxel in platinum-resistant advanced ovarian cancer patients.
Encouraging results with Paclitaxel are reported in ovarian cancer patients relapsing and progressing after platinum-based chemotherapy; however, the two populations have different probabilities of a response to a second-line treatment. Here we report the results achieved in 39 patients with platinum-refractory ovarian cancer, treated with Paclitaxel 175 mg/qm2 (or 135 mg/m2 if heavily pretreated) using 3-hour intravenous infusion every 3 weeks, in an attempt to verify the activity of this drug in platinum-resistant patients. The toxicity was mild to moderate and primarily hematologic and neurologic. The objective response rate is 12.8% with no complete responses. The response duration was brief and the median survival 6 (range 1-17) months. An accurate cost-benefit balance is necessary before routinely use of Paclitaxel in platinum-refractory patients. Further research is needed to determine the optimal role of Paclitaxel in the whole therapeutic strategy for ovarian cancer.
Bruzzone
M
M
Department of Medical Oncology 2, National Institute for Cancer Research, Pisa, Italy.
Catsafados
E
E
Miglietta
L
L
Amoroso
D
D
Pedulla
F
F
Giannessi
P G
PG
Locatelli
M C
MC
D'Antona
A
A
Foglia
G
G
Mammoliti
S
S
Turno
F
F
Gentile
A
A
Nicosia
F
F
Luporini
G
G
Ragni
N
N
Boccardo
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016879:Salvage Therapy
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D017239:Paclitaxel