title: Primary ovarian cancer chemotherapy: current standards of care.
abstract: Chemotherapy has been regarded as standard therapy for the majority of women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer for several decades, with this role filled largely by the alkylating agents - used as monotherapy - until the mid-1980s. The activity of cisplatin in this disorder was established during the 1970s, and combinations of cisplatin and an alkylating agent were widely used during the late 1980s. However, further research prompted by continuing concerns over poor survival and tolerability led to the adoption of paclitaxel in combination with either cisplatin or carboplatin as first-line therapy in ovarian cancer during the 1990s. Most recent research has focused on further optimisation of these regimens to maximise clinical benefit while minimising toxicity, and investigations into alternative taxanes (e.g. docetaxel), other novel agents and new treatment schedules are ongoing.
authors.affiliation: Franklin Square Hospital Center, Baltimore, MD 21237, USA. wmcguire52@aol.com
authors.forename: W P
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: McGuire
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Markman
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000266:history / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin