Ifosfamide and paclitaxel salvage chemotherapy for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of ifosfamide (1.5 g/m2 i.v. on days 1, 2, 3) and paclitaxel (135 mg/m2 i.v. over 3 hours on day 3) with G-CSF (5 micrograms/kg/d subcutaneously, days 7-11) administered every 3 weeks on an outpatient basis in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.


METHODS
Thirty-five consecutive patients were treated, 12 of whom had previously received two regimens. Twelve of the 35 were defined as platinum-resistant and 23 as potentially platinum-sensitive.


RESULTS
Fifteen patients (43%; 95% CI: 26%-61%) achieved objective responses, five of them complete and ten partial. Objective responses occurred in 17% of the platinum-resistant patients and in 57% of those with potentially platinum-sensitive disease. The median duration of response was seven months and the median overall survival 11 months. The treatment was well tolerated and only 15% of the patients developed grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. With the exception of alopecia there were no other grade 3 or 4 toxicities.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of ifosfamide and paclitaxel was well tolerated and showed activity in patients with ovarian cancer who had previously undergone platinum-based chemotherapy.
Dimopoulos
M A
MA
Department of Clinical Therapeutics, University of Athens School of Medicine, Greece.
Papadimitriou
C
C
Gennatas
C
C
Akrivos
T
T
Vlahos
G
G
Voulgaris
Z
Z
Diacomanolis
E
E
Athanassiades
P
P
Mihalas
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016879:Salvage Therapy
D017239:Paclitaxel; D007069:Ifosfamide