Phase II study of docetaxel weekly in combination with carboplatin every 3 weeks as first-line chemotherapy in stage IIB to stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the response rate, toxicity, progression-free survival, and overall survival in a series of patients with advanced-stage ovarian carcinoma treated with a first-line weekly docetaxel and 3 weekly carboplatin regimen. METHODS: All eligible patients were treated with intravenous docetaxel (30 mg/m) on days 1, 8, and 15, and carboplatin (area under the curve, 5) on day 1; every 21 days for at least 6 cycles. RESULTS: One hundred six patients received at least one cycle of primary chemotherapy (median, 6.0; range, 1-9), and they were evaluable for toxicity assessment. Eighty-five patients had evaluable (measurable) disease and received at least 3 courses of chemotherapy and were evaluable for clinical response rate. The overall response rate was 78.8% (95% confidence interval, 70.1%-87.5%), and the biochemical response 92.8% (95% confidence interval, 87.2%-98.4%). The median progression-free survival was 12.0 months and the median overall survival was 35.3 months. Thirty-six patients (34.0%) experienced grades 3 and 4 neutropenia, which resulted in the removal of 3 patients. Six patients (5.7%) experienced grades 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia. No patients experienced grade 3 to grade 4 sensory neuropathy. Epiphora, nail changes, and fatigue were frequently recorded nonhematologic adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: The tolerable hematologic toxicity (no need for colony-stimulating factors) and the low rate of neurotoxicity (only grades 1-2) and response rates in line with the standard 3-week paclitaxel-carboplatin regimen for advanced primary ovarian carcinoma after suboptimal cytoreductive surgery make this regimen an interesting alternative in selected patients.

A phase II study of docetaxel weekly in combination with carboplatin every three weeks as first line chemotherapy in stage IIB-IV epithelial ovarian cancer: neurological toxicity and quality-of-life evaluation.

The purpose of this study was to assess the response rate, toxicity, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in a series of advanced stage ovarian carcinoma patients treated with a first-line weekly docetaxel and three weekly carboplatin regimens. All eligible patients were treated with intravenous docetaxel (30 mg/m2) on Days 1, 8 and 15, and carboplatin (area under the curve, 5) on Day 1; Q21 days for at least 6 cycles. Neurological tests, questionnaires, and the EORTC QLQ-C30 and OV28 were used for quality-of-life assessments. One hundred and six patients received at least one cycle of primary chemotherapy (median 6.0; range, 1-9) and they were evaluable for toxicity assessment. Eighty-five patients had evaluable disease and received at least 3 courses of chemotherapy and were evaluable for clinical response rate. The overall response rate was 78.8% (95% CI 70.1-87.5%) and the biochemical response was 92.8% (95% CI 87.2-98.4%). The median PFS was 12.0 months and the median OS was 35.3 months. Thirty-six patients (34.0%) experienced grades 3 and 4 neutropenia, which resulted in the removal of 3 patients. Six patients (5.7%) experienced grades 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia. No patients experienced grade 3-4 sensory neuropathy. Epiphora, nail changes and fatigue were frequently recorded non-hematological side effects. The tolerable hematological toxicity (no need for colony-stimulating factors) and the low rate of severe neurotoxicity (only grade 1-2) and response rates in line with the standard 3-week paclitaxel-carboplatin regimen for advanced primary ovarian carcinoma after suboptimal cytoreductive surgery make this regimen an interesting alternative in selected patients.