IN-VITRO ACTIVITY OF TITANOCENEDICHLORIDE VERSUS CISPLATIN AND DOXORUBICIN IN PRIMARY AND RECURRENT EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CANCER

Background: Titanocenedichloride (MKT 4) is a new antineoplastic metal complex with proven activity in several experimental tumors. Material and Methods: In the present study, the cytotoxic activity of titanoce nedichloride in fourteen primary and twelve recurrent ovarian carcinom as (OvCA) was evaluated by an in vitro adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bi oluminescence assay. Results: In primary tumors, MKT 4 was found to be at least as effective as cisplatin (DDP) and doxorubicin (DOX). In sa mples derived from pretreated patients, titanocenedichloride was even more active. In both groups of tumors, a lack of cross resistance betw een the two metal compounds as well as between MKT 4 and DOX was appar ent. The new agent was found to be active in eight of seventeen DDP-re sistant (primaries: n=4; recurrences n=4) and also eight of seventeen DOX-resistant tumors (primaries: n=4; recurrences n=4). Conclusions: T hese results indicate a remarkable in vitro activity of titanocenedich loride in native OvCA specimens, even in those exhibiting resistance a gainst cisplatin or doxorubicin. The putative role of this novel drug for the future therapy of OvCA should be evaluated by additional in vi tro and in vivo studies.