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There is increasing evidence of the efficacy of dose-dense therapy in the management of platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer. We report our experience of extended weekly carboplatin and paclitaxel in this population group. Twenty patients with platinum-resistant/refractory ovarian cancer received carboplatin AUC 3 and paclitaxel 70 mg m(-2) on day 1, 8, 15 q 4 weekly for six planned cycles. Toxicity was assessed using Common Toxicity Criteria. Response was evaluated using radiological and CA125 criteria. Median age was 61 years (range 40-74 years). Median number of prior therapies is three (range 1-8). Response rate was 60% by radiological criteria (RECIST) and 76% by CA125 assessment. Grade 3 toxicities consisted of neutropenia (29% of patients) and anaemia (5%). One patient experienced grade 4 neutropenia. No grade 3/4 thombocytopaenia was reported. Fatigue, nausea and peripheral neuropathy were the most frequent non-hematological side effects. Median progression-free survival was 7.9 months and overall survival was 13.3 months. The dynamics of response to dose-dense therapy were as rapid as with front-line therapy within the same patient. This dose-dense regimen can be extended to at least 18 weekly cycles over 6 months and is well tolerated with high response rates in heavily pre-treated, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. It forms a highly active and tolerable cytotoxic scaffold to which molecular-targeted therapies can be added in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/sj.bjc.6604914

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br J Cancer

Publication Date

10/03/2009

Volume

100

Pages

707 - 712

Keywords

Adult, Aged, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, CA-125 Antigen, Carboplatin, Drug Administration Schedule, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, Feasibility Studies, Female, Humans, Middle Aged, Ovarian Neoplasms, Paclitaxel, Platinum Compounds, Recurrence, Retrospective Studies, Treatment Outcome