THE USE OF PHARMACOKINETICS TO IMPROVE THE TREATMENT OF OVARIAN-CANCER - COMBINATION PACLITAXEL (TAXOL(R))CARBOPLATIN

On confirming that paclitaxel (Taxol(R), Bristol-Myers Squibb Company) cisplatin is effective in treating advanced ovarian cancer, investigat ions have turned toward reducing the toxicity observed with the regime n. Replacement of cisplatin with its analogue carboplatin would be exp ected to result in comparable response rates but less neuropathy and n ephrotoxicity and fewer of cisplatin's other toxic effects as well. So me studies suggest, however, that combination paclitaxel-carboplatin i s associated with pharmacokinetic interactions that result in lower-th an-expected areas under the plasma concentration-time curve of carbopl atin. However, our own studies suggest that such variations are probab ly attributable to methodologic differences in estimating glomerular f iltration rates, leading to underdosing of carboplatin. It is conclude d that paclitaxel-carboplatin can be combined in a variety of regimens without compromising the dose of either agent.