title: Weekly versus three weeks chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Three weeks paclitaxel and carboplatin has been considered the standard of care for primary treatment of ovarian cancer (OC). Whether weekly therapy will further improve the clinical outcomes or not is still unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare the two regimens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Articles were selected with a systematic approach, using PubMed databases. Trials concerning comparison between carboplatin plus weekly paclitaxel (dose-dense regimen) and carboplatin plus paclitaxel every 3 weeks were considered. Outcomes included overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS) and severe acute toxicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Dose-dense regimen was associated with significant improvement of PFS compared with standard schedule, with HR of 0.73 (95% CI 0.61-0.88, p = 0.001). There was no difference in OS between treatment regimens (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.77-1.16, p=0.06), as well as in term of severe acute toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dose-dense regimen is superior to standard schedule in terms of PFS. Further studies are necessary to firmly confirm this evidence in advanced OC treatment.
authors: Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Marchetti
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: De Felice
authors: Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Musella
authors: Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Innocenza
authors: I
authors: Palaia
authors: Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Monti
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Musio
authors: Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Ludovico
authors: L
authors: Muzii
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, Policlinico Umberto I "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Vincenzo
authors: V
authors: Tombolini
authors: Department of Gynecological and Obstetrical Sciences and Urological Sciences, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
authors: Pierluigi
authors: P
authors: Benedetti Panici
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016190:Carboplatin; D017239:Paclitaxel
keywords: carboplatin; dose-dense; ovarian cancer; paclitaxel; weekly