SALVAGE CHEMOTHERAPY WITH PACLITAXEL IN PLATINUM-RESISTANT ADVANCED OVARIAN-CANCER PATIENTS

Encouraging results with Paclitaxel are reported in ovarian cancer pat ients relapsing and progressing after platinum-based chemotherapy; how ever, the two populations have different probabilities of a response t o a second-line treatment. Here we report the results achieved in 39 p atients with platinum-refractory ovarian cancer, treated with Paclitax el 175 mg/qm(2) (or 135 mg/m(2) if heavily pretreated) using 3-hour in travenous infusion every 3 weeks, in an attempt to verify the activity of this drug in platinum-resistant patients. The toxicity was mild to moderate and primarily hematologic and neurologic. The objective resp onse rate is 12.8% with no complete responses. The response duration w as brief and the median survival 6 (range 1-17) months. An accurate co st-benefit balance is necessary before routinely use of Paclitaxel in platinum-refractory patients. Further research is needed to determine the optimal role of Paclitaxel in the whole therapeutic strategy for o varian cancer.