title: Multicenter phase 2 study of combined gemcitabine and epirubicin as second-line treatment for patients with advanced ovarian cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this phase 2 trial was to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of combined gemcitabine (G) and epirubicin (E) as second-line treatment for patients with advanced ovarian cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment with G 1000 mg/m2 (days 1 and 8) and E 60 mg/m2 (day 1) every 3 weeks for 3 or, in the absence of progression, 6 courses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty patients with advanced ovarian cancer (31 serous, 2 endometrioid, 10 unclassified adenocarcinoma, and 7 other) and a median age of 60 years (range, 38-74 years) were enrolled after giving their informed consent. Performance status according to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group was 0 in 29 patients (58%), 1 in 17 patients (34%), and 2 in 4 patients (8%), and the initial stages according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics were I to II in 4 patients (8%), III in 31 patients (62%), and IV in 15 patients (30%). They had previously received a median of 1.5 lines of treatment (range, 1-4). The median platinum-free interval was 5 months (range, 0-12 months): 32 patients had relapse within 6 months and 18 patients had relapse after 6 months. The response rate was 42% (2% complete response and 40% partial response), with a median duration of 7.2 months: the corresponding figures were 37.5% and 5.2 months in the platinum-resistant patients and 50% and 8.8 months in the platinum-sensitive patients. The main grade 3 to 4 hematological toxicity was neutropenia (56% of cases). After a median follow-up of 13.5 months, median progression-free survival was 5 months, and median overall survival was 23.5 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This E + G combination seems to be active and safe in platinum-resistant/refractory patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy. viviana.murgia@apss.tn.it
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Murgia
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sorio
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Griso
authors.forename: Orazio
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Caffo
authors.forename: Carmela
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arcuri
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferro
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caldara
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scalone
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arisi
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galligioni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007558:Italy; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D015251:Epirubicin; D000093542:Gemcitabine