title: Paclitaxel plus carboplatin in the treatment of ovarian cancer.
abstract: Two large, prospective randomized trials by the Gynecologic Oncology Group and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer have demonstrated the superiority of paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ)/cisplatin compared with cisplatin/cyclophosphamide in previously untreated patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Patients receiving the paclitaxel combination had a higher overall response rate, a longer time to disease progression, and prolonged median survival. In an effort to reduce toxicity, investigators developed combinations of carboplatin/paclitaxel that were found by phase I/II trials to have activity comparable to cisplatin/paclitaxel but with less toxicity. Prospective randomized trials of paclitaxel/cisplatin versus paclitaxel/carboplatin were completed by the Gynecologic Oncology Group and by European investigators and preliminary results identify no differences in efficacy. Clinical trials of new combinations of paclitaxel/carboplatin with oral etoposide, gemcitabine, or epirubicin have recently begun. Additional studies of high-dose chemotherapy regimens of paclitaxel/carboplatin in untreated patients with optimal stage III ovarian cancer also are in progress. The Gynecologic Oncology Group has completed a randomized comparison of three versus six cycles of paclitaxel/carboplatin in early stage disease. This study will be followed by a trial in which all patients with poor-prognosis, early stage ovarian cancer receive three cycles of paclitaxel/carboplatin followed by randomization to no further treatment or to weekly paclitaxel. The combination of paclitaxel/carboplatin is currently the preferred regimen for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
authors: Medical Science Division, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA.
authors: R F
authors: RF
authors: Ozols
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel