Maintenance chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer: the US experience.
The somewhat controversial results of a Southwest Oncology Group/Gynecologic Oncology Group phase 3 randomized trial have revealed that a maintenance strategy consisting of 12 cycles of single-agent paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2) over 3 h every 28 days), delivered to women with advanced ovarian cancer who have achieved a clinically defined complete response to primary platinum-paclitaxel chemotherapy, significantly improves progression-free survival compared to delivery of three cycles of the same treatment regimen. While it is not possible to provide a definitive statement regarding the impact of this management approach on overall survival, in an exploratory analysis, patients who initiated this study with a baseline CA-125 level <or=10 units/mL and were treated with the 12-cycle maintenance program experienced a statistically significant improvement in survival. An ongoing Gynecologic Oncology Group trial in the United States will hopefully provide a definitive answer to the question of the impact of this novel strategy on outcome in ovarian cancer.
Markman
M
M
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. mmarkman@mdanderson.org
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D017671:Platinum Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012074:Remission Induction; D014481:United States
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017671:Platinum Compounds; D017239:Paclitaxel