Paclitaxel and carboplatin as outpatient therapy for stage III and IV epithelial ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
To determine the toxicity and the response rate of a three-hour paclitaxel infusion and carboplatin administered as outpatient treatment for stage III and IV epithelial ovarian cancer.


METHODS
Forty-three patients with stage III/IV epithelial ovarian cancer underwent cytoreductive surgery and then received paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 over 3-hr infusion and carboplatin AUC5 every 21 days for six cycles. Elegible patients had adequate bone marrow, renal and hepatic function; G-CSF was recommended if white cell count fell under 3,000/mm3.


RESULTS
No patients had hypersensivity reactions; 15 out of 43 patients (35%) required colony-stimulating factors, 39 patients (91%) had general alopecia, three patients (7%) had severe emesis, 20 patients (46%) had mild emesis, four patients (9%) had severe myalgias, eight patients (18%) had moderate myalgias, one patient (2%) had grade 3 neurotoxicity. Three patients experienced grade 3 thrombocytopenia (7%). At a median follow-up of 29 months, 32 of 43 patients are alive (74%). Median progression-free survival is 14 months. Median overall survival has not been reached.


CONCLUSIONS
Three-hour infusion paclitaxel and carboplatin is an effective and safe outpatient therapy for epithelial ovarian cancer.
Balbi
G C
GC
Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second University of Studies of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Menditto
A
A
Calabria
G
G
Musone
R
R
Di Prisco
L
L
Cassese
E
E
Balbi
C
C
Cardone
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel