2ND-LINE TREATMENT WITH IFOSFAMIDE AND CARBOPLATIN IN PATIENTS WITH OVARIAN-CARCINOMA RELAPSING AFTER TREATMENT WITH CARBOPLATIN

20 patients with ovarian carcinoma whose disease had relapsed (1-42 mo nths, median 4 months) after showing either response or stable disease to carboplatin, were treated with ifosfamide (5 g/m(2) intravenously over 24 h, day 1) and carboplatin (200 mg/m(2) intravenously day 2) as second-line treatment. The mean number of treatment cycles was 3.5 (r ange 1-6). The major toxicities were thrombocytopenia (WHO grade 3/4, 25%), neutropenia (WHO grade 3/4, 40%) and encephalopathy (WHO grade 3 /4, 15%). Overall response rate was 15% [complete response, 0; partial response, 3 (15%); no change, 5 (25%) and progressive disease, 12 (60 %)]. The median survival from the date of second-line treatment was 7 months. This combination offers no advantage over either agent used al one.