Ovarian Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ovarian Cancer, including details on symptoms, causes, treatment, information.

Treatment of ovarian germ cell tumors with a 3-day bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin regimen: a prospective multicenter study.

Dimopoulos MA, Papadimitriou C, Hamilos G, Efstathiou E, Vlahos G, Rodolakis A, Aravantinos G, Kalofonos H, Kouroussis C, Gika D, Skarlos D, Bamias A

Departments of Clinical Therapeutics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens School of Medicine, 31 Komninon Street, Haidari 124 62, Athens, Greece.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian germ cell tumors (OGCT) are highly curable when treated with cytoreductive surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy. We evaluated the safety and activity of a 3-day modified bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatinum (mBEP) regimen in patients with OGCT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with FIGO stages I-IV OGCT were treated with three (stages I-III complete resection) or four cycles (incomplete resection or stage IV) of bleomycin 15 mg iv, etoposide 120 mg/m(2) iv, and cisplatin 40 mg/m(2) iv for 3 days every 3 weeks. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients (14 with dysgerminoma and 34 with non-dysgerminomatous tumors) were included in our study. Most patients had stage I disease (65%) and complete resection of their tumor (67%). Twenty percent of patients developed grade 3 or 4 neutropenia with 4 episodes of neutropenic fever. During follow-up (median: 5 years), two patients developed progressive disease including one patient who died. All patients with stage I or II disease and all patients with dysgerminoma remain free of disease. However, 20% of patients with non-dysgerminomatous tumors stage III or IV experienced progressive disease. CONCLUSION: The modified 3-day BEP regimen was safe and effective in patients with OGCT. Further improvements are needed for patients with advanced, suboptimally debulked non-dysgerminomatous tumors.

Published 7 December 2004 in Gynecol Oncol, 95(3): 695-700.
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