CARBOPLATIN AND ETOPOSIDE AS FIRST-LINE CHEMOTHERAPY IN ADVANCED EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CANCER

Carboplatin and etoposide are chemotherapeutic agents active in ovaria n cancer, previously proved to have a synergistic activity in animal m odels. The objective of this phase II study was to determine the feasi bility and the efficacy of the combination of carboplatin and etoposid e in previously un treated patients with advanced epithelial ovarian c ancer. Carboplatin, 400 mg m(-2) day 1, and etoposide, 100 mg m(-2) da ys 1-3 every 4 weeks were administered to 28 patients with advanced st age (III-IV) ovarian cancer and a performance status 0-2 (ECOG scale), as a first-line chemotherapy. Twenty-three patients were evaluable fo r response; 15 (65%) (95% CI: 45-81%) responded, 10 (43%) (95% CI: 25- 63%) with clinical complete response. Pathologic complete response dem onstrated during post-chemotherapy laparotomy was noted in 5/23 (22%) (95% CI: 9-42%) patients. The median progression-free interval was 8.5 months, and median survival was 19.5 months. Toxicity, mainly hematol ogic, was severe. Nine (32%) patients experienced at least one episode of leucopenic fever, which consequently led to toxic deaths in two (7 %) patients. The relatively low response and survival rates with incre ased toxicity rate are disappointing.