PACLITAXEL AS SALVAGE THERAPY IN ADVANCED PRETREATED OVARIAN-CANCER -A PHASE-II STUDY

The response rate to salvage chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer h as been disappointing in patients who do not respond or who relapse af ter platinum-containing regimens. In these cases, the identification o f new drugs is a substantial challenge. The efficacy of one of these, paclitaxel, has already been assessed in many phase II trials. From Ju ly 1993 to October 1995, 33 patients with advanced ovarian cancer, rec urrent or refractory after platinum-based regimens, entered our study. Paclitaxel was given by 3-hour intravenous infusion every 3 weeks. Al l the patients were evaluable for toxicity and 27 for response. Nine p atients (33.3%) responded: 6 complete (22.2%) and 3 partial responses (11.1%). Six responses (35.3%) were observed in the 17 platinum-resist ant patients and 3 (30%) in the 10 platinum-responders. World Health O rganization (WHO) grade 3-4 neutropenia was common(13/33 patients, 39. 4%) and peripheral neurotoxicity was observed in 29 patients (87.8%), but was WHO grade 3 in four cases (12.1%). Alopecia was ubiquitous, wh ereas other toxic effects were not significant. The overall response r ate to paclitaxel in this study is similar to that reported in others and the high complete response (CR) rate should be emphasized. These d ata confirm the significant activity and safety of this drug in patien ts with advanced ovarian cancer, even in platinum-resistant cases.