title: Consolidation therapy with weekly paclitaxel infusion in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer and primary peritoneal cancer: an extended follow-up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of weekly paclitaxel consolidation on progression-free survival (PFS) of women undergoing treatment for ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  All women with advanced epithelial ovarian or primary peritoneal carcinoma, treated with paclitaxel consolidation therapy from August 1997 to March 2002, were identified. Patients received weekly paclitaxel infused at a median dose of 80 mg/m(2) (range: 60-80 mg/m(2)) for a maximum of 12 weeks. A chart review was performed to assess disease status and chemotherapy-related toxicities. PFS was calculated from the date of initiation of induction chemotherapy until the date of documented disease recurrence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  31 women received paclitaxel consolidation therapy over the study period (29 stage III and 2 stage IV). 24 women had epithelial ovarian carcinoma and 7 were diagnosed with primary peritoneal carcinoma. The median PFS was 27 months (range: 12-62 months). The overall 2-year survival was 94%, where 17 women (55%) were without evidence of disease and 12 (39%) were alive with disease. The median follow-up was 41 months (range: 15-77 months). Over 337 weeks of consolidation therapy, 1 patient experienced Grade 3 neuropathy and 1 patient developed Grade 3 neutropenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Consolidation therapy with weekly paclitaxel infusion is a well-tolerated regimen that resulted in a median PFS of 27 months in women who obtained a complete clinical response following induction therapy. Given the lack of side effects and the potential for extending the PFS of those treated, a prospective randomized study of weekly paclitaxel should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Boruta
authors.forename: Paola A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gehrig
authors.forename: John F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Boggess
authors.forename: Wesley C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Fowler
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Van Le
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel