title: The "Leuven" dose-dense paclitaxel/carboplatin regimen in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the "Leuven" dose-dense regimen in recurrent ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six courses of paclitaxel (90 mg/m(2)) and carboplatinum (AUC 4) on d1 and d8 every 3 weeks were administered. Response rates were determined using RECIST and Gynaecological Cancer Intergroup (GCIG) CA 125 criteria. Platinum resistance was defined as progression during or within 6 months after platinum-based chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three patients were included with a median number of prior treatment regimens of 2. Nine patients were platinum-resistant and 24 were platinum-sensitive. Three of 8 patients in the platinum-resistant group and 16 of 21 patients in the platinum-sensitive group achieved an evaluable response according to RECIST. According to the GCIG CA 125 criteria 3 of 7 patients in the platinum-resistant and 17 of 19 patients in the platinum-sensitive patients responded. In the entire patient population evaluable for response (n=29), the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 9 months; the median overall survival (OS) was 18 months. Median PFS was 6.75 months for the platinum-resistant and 10.5 months for the platinum-sensitive group. The median OS was 8 months in the platinum-resistant and not yet reached in the platinum-sensitive group. Toxicity was mostly bone marrow-related with neutropenia grade 3/4 in 34% and neutropenic fever in 2% of courses. Dose reduction was necessary in 25% of patients. Nausea and vomiting and fatigue were the most frequent non-hematological side effects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dose-dense paclitaxel and carboplatin offers a well-tolerated regimen with high response rates even in heavily pre-treated and platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gynecological Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cadron
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Leunen
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amant
authors.forename: Toon
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Van Gorp
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neven
authors.forename: Ignace
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vergote
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel