title: Paclitaxel (Taxol) monotherapy in the treatment of progressive and recurrent ovarian carcinoma after platinum-based chemotherapy.
abstract: This retrospective study evaluates paclitaxel (Taxol) monotherapy in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer, previously treated with cisplatin. Forty-six patients with FIGO stage IC to IV were given Taxol in doses of 175 mg/m2 and 135 mg/m2 as a 3-h continuous infusion. All patients were given premedication (prednisone, clemastin, cimetidine) to prevent hypersensitivity reactions. One allergic reaction was observed. Thirty-nine patients showed progress of their disease during treatment and seven showed a response (overall response rate 15.2%; 95% c.i. 4.8-25.6%). There were five total (10.9%) and two partial responses. Among 20 patients who had progressed during or within 6 months of prior cisplatin-based therapy two were responders and two showed partial response (10%). Among 26 patients who had responded to cisplatin but suffered recurrence more than 6 months after cisplatin treatment, there were five total responders (19.2%). We conclude that Taxol treatment does not alter the fact that advanced ovarian carcinoma still carries a grave prognosis. Taxol monotherapy treatment of patients not responding to first line platinum treatment or having relapse within six months of completed therapy, seems to have a limited effect. For those patients responding to the first line platinum treatment that lasts for at least six months the effect of Taxol treatment is more encouraging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecologic Oncology, University Hospital of Linköping,Sweden.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Palm
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Simonsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D017239:Paclitaxel