title: Experience in a UK cancer centre of weekly paclitaxel in the treatment of relapsed ovarian and primary peritoneal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Weekly paclitaxel (WP) has been reported to have significant activity in patients with ovarian and primary peritoneal cancer patients while retaining a favorable toxicity profile. This study assessed the current usage of WP in routine clinical practice in a tertiary cancer center.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective audit in 53 patients with recurrent ovarian or primary peritoneal cancer treated with WP (80-100 mg/m(2)) over a 2-year period (Nov 2003-Nov 2005). Toxicity was assessed using Common Toxicity Criteria, and response was evaluated using radiological and CA-125 criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients had a median age of 69 (36-86) and previously received a median of 3 treatments (range 1-7). A median of 13 weekly doses of paclitaxel (range 1-39) were given. The response rate was 48% by radiological criteria and 69% by CA-125 assessment. Grade 3 toxicities were fatigue (13% of patients), peripheral neuropathy (11%) and neutropenia (8%) and there were no grade 4 toxicities. The median progression-free survival was 4. 8 months and median survival was 13. 5 months. There was no significant difference in efficacy between those 24 patients previously treated with taxanes (radiol. response 43%/CA-125 response 63%) and those 29 patients who had not received prior taxanes (radiol. response 52%/CA-125 response 76%). There was also no difference in efficacy for patients with platinum-free or treatment-free intervals of less than 6 months compared to 6 months or longer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WP is a well tolerated and active regimen in patients with pre-treated ovarian cancer and its use in recurrent disease is likely to increase. Further studies should aim to assess the importance of the "paclitaxel-free interval" in predicting response in relapsed disease, along similar lines as are now established for platinums.
authors.affiliation: Gynaecology Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Surrey, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Linch
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stavridi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hook
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Barbachano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gore
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kaye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel