title: A feasibility study on biweekly administration of docetaxel for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A recent study demonstrated that docetaxel (DTX) was an effective agent for second line chemotherapy against ovarian cancer. Weekly administration of taxane compounds had been more effective compared with a 3 week interval administration in ovarian cancer. The role of biweekly administration of DTX has been unknown. We conducted a dose determination and feasibility study of biweekly DTX administration in patients with ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with histologically confirmed epithelial ovarian cancer who received one or more regimens of prior chemotherapy with more than 4 weeks of treatment-free interval were eligible. DTX was administered as 1-h intravenous infusion every two weeks for at least four courses. The starting dose was 40 mg/m(2) (level 1) and the dose was escalated to 50 mg/m(2) (level 2) and 60 mg/m(2) (level 3) in consequent patient cohorts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients were examined in this study. The treatments were completely performed in all cohorts. Mean treatment delay ranged from 0 to 2.0 days. Dose level did not affect treatment delay. At the first dose level, no patients experienced grade 3/4 neutropenia. Two patients in level 2 experienced grade 3/4 neutropenia. In level 3, all patients had grade 4 neutropenia. Nonhematologic toxicities were tolerable. Of eight patients with measurable disease, all patients in level 1 showed progressive disease, and all patients in level 2 were no-change. There were two responders showing complete response and partial response and one case was no-change in level 3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed that biweekly administration of 60 mg/m(2) DTX was feasible for recurrent ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.
authors.forename: Tetsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oishi
authors.forename: Junzo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kigawa
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Michihisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
authors.forename: Fumitaka
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Numa
authors.forename: Eriko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aotani
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsumata
authors.forename: Ichiro
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Terakawa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D043823:Taxoids
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel