How should we manage patients with "platinum-sensitive" recurrent ovarian cancer?
Decisions about the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer are usually based on the treatment-free interval. Patients relapsing with an interval of more than six months are usually retreated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Non platinum drugs (such as paclitaxel, gemcitabine, liposomal doxorubicin or topotecan) are also active in relapsed disease. A high response rate is consistently seen with combinations of platinum and these drugs in phase II trials. ICON 4, the first large-scale randomised trial in 'platinum-sensitive' relapsed ovarian cancer demonstrated a survival benefit for using platinum-based therapy in combination with paclitaxel. More studies are needed to explore other combinations of treatment in this group of women as the choice and timing of second-line therapy needs to take account of the benefits and toxicity of treatment.
Ledermann
Jonathan A
JA
Department Oncology, University College London, London, UK. j.ledermann@ctc.ucl.ac.uk
Wheeler
Sarah
S
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin