Impact of combination chemotherapy with itraconazole on survival for patients with recurrent or persistent ovarian clear cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Recurrent ovarian clear cell carcinoma (CCC) rarely responds to cytotoxic agents. Itraconazole is a potent inhibitor of the P-glycoprotein efflux pump, angiogenesis, and the Hedgehog pathway. We evaluated the efficacy of chemotherapy with itraconazole for CCC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Medical charts of patients with CCC who had received chemotherapy with itraconazole were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Among nine patients with CCC, five had a history of progression with paclitaxel and carboplatin, and none had received prior treatment with bevacizumab or other targeted therapy. Eight patients received docetaxel (35 mg/m(2), day 1) and carboplatin-based (area under the curve, 4 mg·min(-1)·mL(-1); day 1) chemotherapy with an oral itraconazole solution (400 mg, days -2 to 2), repeated every two weeks. The response rate, median progression-free survival and overall survival were 44% (95% confidence interval [(CI)=12-77%], 544 days (95% CI=82-544 days) and 1,047 days (95% CI=462-1332 days), respectively. CONCLUSION: Chemotherapy with itraconazole is promising for patients with CCC.