A phase II study of single agent gemcitabine in recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer

Clinical experience of single agent gemcitabine in epithelial ovarian cance r relapsed after, or refractory or resistant to combined paclitaxel and car boplatin regimen was studied in 17 consecutive patients. Each cycle of trea tment consisted of three weekly intravenous administration of gemcitabine a t 1000mg/m2. The cycle was repeated 4-weekly as an outpatient. Clinical res ponse to gemcitabine was assessed at the end of second, fourth and sixth cy cle. Conventional criteria for response based on clinical, serum tumour mar kers and radiological assessments was employed. All treatment cycles were e valuated for toxicity. Of the 14 patients evaluable for response, 2 (14.3%) showed partial response and 2 (14.3%) showed stable disease. The median re sponse interval was 4 months. The most common toxicities were haematologica l and nausea and vomiting. These toxicities were mild and well tolerated.