title: Second-line treatment with intravenous gemcitabine and oral etoposide in platinum-resistant advanced ovarian cancer patients: results of a phase II study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The outcome of advanced ovarian cancer patients has not significantly improved since the introduction of platinum. One of the major reasons for this failure is the lack of an effective second-line treatment. In this phase II trial we tested the combination of gemcitabine and etoposide in 2 different groups of patients. Group 1 consisted of patients showing disease progression or relapse within 6 months of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy. Group 2 comprised heavily pretreated patients showing progression during the last chemotherapy attempt.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients were enrolled. Gemcitabine was administered at a dose of 1,000 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 and etoposide was administered orally at 100 mg/day on days 8-12 for 6 courses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen patients (52.9%) had an objective response and the median duration of the response was 10.3 months. Our chemotherapy regimen showed a low toxicity and good patient compliance. In 5 patients the treatment had to be delayed and in only 2 patients it was discontinued.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of gemcitabine and oral etoposide seems to be a safe and effective second-line treatment for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients. Additional data on larger series are warranted to better define the activity of this combination regimen.
authors: Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italia. milena.bruzzone @ istge.it
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Bruzzone
authors: M G
authors: MG
authors: Centurioni
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Giglione
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Gualco
authors: D F
authors: DF
authors: Merlo
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Miglietta
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Cosso
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Giannelli
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Cristoforoni
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ferrarini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010984:Platinum / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D010984:Platinum; D005047:Etoposide; D000093542:Gemcitabine