Preliminary experience with salvage weekly paclitaxel in women with advanced recurrent ovarian carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of palliative chemotherapy with weekly paclitaxel in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients with paclitaxel- and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer were treated with weekly paclitaxel at 80 mg/m2 as a 1-hour intravenous infusion weekly for six weeks every eight weeks (1 cycle). This schedule was considered to be given for three cycles. Evaluation of radiographically measurable disease was used in the assessment of response. CA-125 was used to classify responses only in the absence of a measurable lesion.


RESULTS
Thirty-two patients were all assessable for response. Of these, nine patients (28.1%) achieved a partial response and one patient achieved a complete response, leading to an overall response rate of 31.2%. Stable disease occurred in six patients (18.8%), and 16 patients (50%) had progressive disease. Nine patients died of progressive disease while on treatment. The median survival for the entire group was 10.5 months (range 2.5-22 months). Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia and neutropenia occurred in eight and six patients, respectively. Four of these patients developed febrile neutropenia without infection. Grade 1 and 2 peripheral neuropathies were observed in 50% of the patients without causing any premature drop out. Severe (grade 3 or 4) peripheral neuropathy was not observed. There were 11 patients with grade 1 or 2 myalgias.


CONCLUSIONS
Weekly paclitaxel regimen is well tolerated with acceptable toxicity. The favorable toxicity profile and the encouraging antitumor activity observed in this study makes this regimen an option for the salvage treatment of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.
Dunder
I
I
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Berker
B
B
Atabekoglu
C
C
Bilgin
T
T
D018262:Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000231:Adenocarcinoma, Papillary / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D018269:Carcinoma, Endometrioid / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011859:Radiography; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D017239:Paclitaxel