title: Paclitaxel and carboplatin as second-line therapy in women with platinum-sensitive ovarian carcinoma treated with platinum and paclitaxel as first-line therapy.
abstract: The study was performed to assess response rate, progression-free interval (PFI), and side effects of the combination paclitaxel and carboplatin as second-line therapy among women with platinum-sensitive epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC). Thirty women who achieved partial surgical response at second-look surgery (n = 8) or who had recurrence (n = 22) more than 6 months after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy were treated with paclitaxel (135 mg/m2 for 3 hours) and carboplatin (area under the concentration-time curve 5) every 3 weeks. Response rate, PFI, and side effects of treatment were recorded. One hundred sixty-seven cycles of treatment (median = 6, range = 2-11) were administered. Among 22 patients with measurable or assessable disease, 14 had complete response and 3 had partial response. Five patients had progressive disease. The overall response rate was 77%. The median PFI was 10 months (range = 1-29). Among 22 patients in whom recurrence or progression developed after second-line therapy, the median interval was 9 months (range = 1-26). The incidence of grade III or IV neutropenia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia was 48%, 27%, and 3%, respectively. One patient discontinued treatment secondary to persistent thrombocytopenia. Eight patients died secondary to their disease. It was concluded that the combination paclitaxel and carboplatin has a high success rate, long duration of response, and is well tolerated as a second-line therapy among patients with platinum-sensitive EOC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vermont/Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, Vermont, USA.
authors.forename: Gamal H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Eltabbakh
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adamowicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel