High-dose chemotherapy with autologous transplantation for persistent/relapsed ovarian cancer: a multivariate analysis of survival for 100 consecutively treated patients.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prognostic factors associated with prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in 100 consecutively treated women undergoing autologous stem-cell transplant for advanced ovarian cancer.


METHODS
From October 1989 to February 1996, we transplanted 100 patients with ovarian cancer following chemotherapy with high-dose carboplatin, mitoxantrone, and cyclophosphamide with or without cyclosporine (n = 70); melphalan and mitoxantrone with or without paclitaxel (n = 25); or other regimens (n = 5). Their median age was 48 years (range, 23 to 65), 70% had papillary serous histology, 72% had grade III tumors, 66% were platinum-resistant, and 61% had > or = 1 cm bulk. The median number of prior regimens was two (range, one to six). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine age (< v > or = mean), stage, initial bulk, histology, grade, response to initial therapy, number of prior regimens, time from diagnosis to transplant, transplant regimen, platinum sensitivity, and bulk (< v > or = 1 cm) at transplant.


RESULTS
The median PFS and OS times for the 100 patients were 7 and 13 months. A stepwise Cox proportional hazards model identified tumor bulk (P = .0001), and cisplatin sensitivity (P = .0249) as the best predictors of PFS. Age (P = .0017), bulk at transplant (P = .0175), and platinum sensitivity (P = .0330) provided the best prediction of OS. The median PFS and OS times for the 20 patients with platinum-sensitive, < or = 1-cm disease were 19 and 30 months. No differences in OS were seen when chemotherapy or surgery was used to achieve a minimal disease state.


CONCLUSIONS
Before consideration of high-dose therapy for recurrent/persistent advanced ovarian cancer, patients should undergo debulking surgery or chemotherapy to achieve a minimal disease state. Patients with platinum-resistant, bulky disease should not be transplanted. The optimal patients for this therapy may be those with minimal disease responsive to initial chemotherapy.
Stiff
P J
PJ
Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL 60153, USA.
Bayer
R
R
Kerger
C
C
Potkul
R K
RK
Malhotra
D
D
Peace
D J
DJ
Smith
D
D
Fisher
S G
SG
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D012086:Reoperation; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome