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.

A phase II trial of weekly docetaxel in patients with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal serous cancer, or fallopian tube cancer.

Berkenblit A, Seiden MV, Matulonis UA, Penson RT, Krasner CN, Roche M, Mezzetti L, Atkinson T, Cannistra SA

Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center Program in Gynecologic Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the activity and tolerability of weekly docetaxel in patients with platinum-resistant mullerian origin tumors. METHODS: Patients with persistent disease, or those recurring less than 6 months after receiving platinum-containing therapy, were eligible for this phase II study. Docetaxel was initially administered at a dose of 40 mg/m(2) on days 1, 8, and 15, with a cycle length of 28 days. This starting dose was subsequently reduced to 30 mg/m(2) due to toxicity. Dexamethasone prophylaxis was administered at a dose of 4 mg PO every 12 hours for 3 doses, starting 12 hours before each dose of docetaxel. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were enrolled, with a median age of 59 years. The majority of patients received a median of 3 prior regimens, with 45% of the study group having received 4 or more prior regimens. The overall response rate in 29 evaluable patients was 6.9%, with no complete responses. Seventeen percent of patients experienced stable disease. Dose reduction or delay was required in 10 of the first 22 patients enrolled, prompting a reduction in the starting dose to 30 mg/m(2). Hematologic toxicity was generally tolerable, and no patient experienced febrile neutropenia. Non-hematologic toxicity was generally grade 1 in nature, although a combination of multiple low grade toxicities occurring in an individual patient oftentimes mandated dose reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Weekly docetaxel demonstrated modest activity in a heavily pre-treated, platinum-resistant population. A starting docetaxel dose of 30 mg/m(2) would be reasonable for future studies exploring the utility of weekly dosing in less heavily pre-treated patients.

Published 7 December 2004 in Gynecol Oncol, 95(3): 624-31.
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