Activity of chemotherapy in mucinous epithelial ovarian cancer: a retrospective study.
OBJECTIVE
Mucinous ovarian carcinoma has a poorer prognosis compared with other histological subtypes. The aim of this study was to evaluate, retrospectively, the activity of first-line and second-line chemotherapy in patients with mucinous ovarian cancer in a mono-institutional series.


METHODS
In the period under survey (1996-2003), 225 new patients with ovarian cancer were treated. Twenty-one out of these patients (9.3%) received a diagnosis of mucinous ovarian cancer. The median age, performance status, stage at diagnosis and residual disease after surgery were similar in the mucinous compared to the other histological groups (P=NS).


RESULTS
In mucinous ovarian cancer the grading of the tumors was 2 in 76% of the cases, while grade 3 was more frequent in the other subtypes (p<0.002). Eighty-five % of the patients had received carboplatin/paclitaxel, while the remaining cases had been treated with a cisplatin-based chemotherapy not containing paclitaxel. Two patients with early stage were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and were not evaluable for response while 19 patients had measurable disease (12 pts) or were assessed at second-look (7 pts). Forty-seven % of the 19 patients experienced disease progression during first-line, while 31.5% and 10.5% complete and partial responses were recorded, respectively. Fifteen out of the 21 patients had progressed at the time of the analyses. Sixty % of the progressed patients were platinum-refractory, 3 cases were platinum-sensitive and 3 platinum-resistant. The 3 platinum-sensitive patients were treated with single agent carboplatin without any response. No response was recorded with topotecan or liposomal doxorubicin when given as second- or third-line treatment in platinum-refractory/resistant patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Mucinous ovarian cancer has a poor response to chemotherapy both in the first-line and in the recurrence settings. Studies with alternative chemotherapy combinations are mandatory in this histological subgroup.
Pisano
Carmela
C
Medical Oncology B, National Cancer Institute, via M. Semmola, 80131, Naples, Italy.
Greggi
Stefano
S
Tambaro
Rosa
R
Losito
Simona
S
Iodice
Francesco
F
Di Maio
Massimo
M
Ferrari
Ettore
E
Falanga
Marzia
M
Formato
Roberta
R
Iaffaioli
Vincenzo Rosario
VR
Pignata
Sandro
S
D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel; D002945:Cisplatin