title: A phase II study of docetaxel weekly in combination with carboplatin every three weeks as first line chemotherapy in stage IIB-IV epithelial ovarian cancer: neurological toxicity and quality-of-life evaluation.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the response rate, toxicity, progression-free             survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in a series of advanced stage ovarian             carcinoma patients treated with a first-line weekly docetaxel and three weekly             carboplatin regimens. All eligible patients were treated with intravenous docetaxel             (30 mg/m2) on Days 1, 8 and 15, and carboplatin (area under the curve, 5) on Day             1; Q21 days for at least 6 cycles. Neurological tests, questionnaires, and the             EORTC QLQ-C30 and OV28 were used for quality-of-life assessments. One hundred             and six patients received at least one cycle of primary chemotherapy (median 6.0;             range, 1-9) and they were evaluable for toxicity assessment. Eighty-five patients             had evaluable disease and received at least 3 courses of chemotherapy and were             evaluable for clinical response rate. The overall response rate was 78.8% (95%             CI 70.1-87.5%) and the biochemical response was 92.8% (95% CI 87.2-98.4%). The             median PFS was 12.0 months and the median OS was 35.3 months. Thirty-six patients             (34.0%) experienced grades 3 and 4 neutropenia, which resulted in the removal             of 3 patients. Six patients (5.7%) experienced grades 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia.             No patients experienced grade 3-4 sensory neuropathy. Epiphora, nail changes and             fatigue were frequently recorded non-hematological side effects. The tolerable             hematological toxicity (no need for colony-stimulating factors) and the low rate             of severe neurotoxicity (only grade 1-2) and response rates in line with the standard             3-week paclitaxel-carboplatin regimen for advanced primary ovarian carcinoma after             suboptimal cytoreductive surgery make this regimen an interesting alternative             in selected patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecological Oncology, University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden. bengt.sorbe@orebroll.se
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sorbe
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graflund
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nygren
authors.forename: György
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Swahn
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boman
authors.forename: René
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bangshöj
authors.forename: Margareta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lood
authors.forename: Henric
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Malmström
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077216:Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D015996:Survival Rate; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D000077143:Docetaxel; D016190:Carboplatin