Pilot study of whole body hyperthermia and carboplatin in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer

The aim of this study was to determine whether the addition of whole body h yperthermia (WBH) to carboplatin (CBDCA) call induce responses in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. 16 pretreated patients with platinu m-resistant ovarian cancer were entered on a Systemic Hyperthermia Oncologi cal Working Group (SHOWG) study; (14 patients were eligible with 14 evaluab le for toxicity and 12 for response). The patients were treated with WBH (A quatherm (R)) 41.8 degrees Cx60 min in combination with carboplatin (CBDCA) (area under the curve (AUC) of 8) every 4 weeks. Disease status was evalua ted every two cycles. Patients were treated for a maximum of six cycles. On e patient had a complete response (CR) and 4 had a partial response (PR). 4 patients had stable disease (SD). 3 patients had progressive disease (PD). 2 patients were unevaluable: 1 had a bowel obstruction shortly after her f irst treatment; the second patient achieved a CR, but only had one treatmen t secondary to an idiosyncratic reaction to sedative drugs. 2 patients ente red on study were ineligible, as they did not meet criteria for platinum re sistance; 1 entered a CR and 1 had SD. Dose-limiting toxicity, which requir ed CBDCA dose reductions, was grade 4 thrombocytopenia. Other toxicities in cluded neutropenia (grade 3/4), and nausea and/or vomiting. Consistent with preclinical modelling, these results suggests that 41.8 degreesC WBH can o vercome platinum resistance in ovarian cancer. These observations suggest f urther investigation of the therapeutic potential of WBH in a group of pati ents who historically fail to respond to salvage therapies is warranted. (C ) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.