ISSN:
1569-8041
Keywords:
advanced ovarian cancer
;
first-line treatment
;
paclitaxel
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Background: We wanted to assess the efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel(Taxol) in previously untreated patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Nosuch study had been performed at the time of initiation of this study. Patients and methods: The study population in this analysis consisted of35 previously untreated stage III ovarian cancer patients, suboptimallyresected at primary surgery. The initial paclitaxel dose was 175mg/m2 given as a three-hour i.v. infusion every three weeks. Results: A total of 225 paclitaxel courses were given to 35 patients ofwhom 34 were evaluable for clinical response. Nine (26%) patientsobtained a complete response to paclitaxel, ten (29%) a partialresponse, seven (21%) stable disease and eight (24%) hadprogressive disease. Thus, the total response rate to paclitaxel treatmentwas 55% (19 of 34). The median duration of response for the 19responding patients was eight months (range 1–44.5+). The medianduration for nine patients with clinical complete response was 16 months(range 2–44.5+). A second-look laparotomy was performed in 15 patients after six coursesof paclitaxel. Of these, five obtained a histopathologically completeremission, five a partial remission and five stable disease. The fivepatients with pathologically complete remissions are alive with a medianprogressive-free survival of 24.5 months (range 15+–44.5+). The medianprogression-free survival for all patients was 6.1 months (range1–44.5+). Toxicity consisted mainly of neutropenia, easily controlled.Other toxicities were myalgia/arthralgia and peripheral neuropathy. Threepatients experienced a severe anaphylactic reaction during the first course.Conclusion: This study showed that paclitaxel is an effective and safe drugfor first-line treatment of ovarian cancer.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008230909599
Permalink
