title: Carboplatin and chlorambucil combination chemotherapy as treatment for patients with ovarian cancer.
abstract: Fifty-six patients with ovarian cancer (three stage IC, nine stage II, 33 stage III and II stage IV) were treated with carboplatin 350 mg m-2 i.v. day 1 and chlorambucil orally 0.15 mg kgm-1 days 1-7 inclusive, repeated every 28 days for eight courses. The regimen was well tolerated and was virtually free of nephro- and neurotoxicity. Grade III or IV hematology toxicity occurred in 18 patients but only 31 or 330 courses administered were delayed. Of 40 assessable patients eight achieved a clinical/radiologic complete response and 17 a clinical/radiologic partial response. Actuarial survival at 50 months was 65% for stage II patients, 27% for stage III patients and no stage IV patients survived beyond 20 months. Forty-two per cent of patients with residual disease less 2 cm survived 50 months, compared with 44% of patients with moderate volume (2-5 cm) residual disease and 6% of patients with bulk residual disease. This is an active, well tolerated regimen. However, only patients with small volume residual disease have a significant chance of prolonged survival.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Unit, Palmerston North Hospital, Palmerson North; Oncology Unit, Waikato Hospital, Hamilton; Oncology Unit, Wellington Hospital, Wellington; Oncology Unit, Dunedin Hospital, Dunedin; and Oncology Unit, Auckland Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: B.D.
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: P.
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: P.
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dady
authors.forename: G.
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forgeson
authors.forename: D.
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.forename: M.
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKeage
authors.forename: P.
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell