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.

Phase III randomized trial of intravenous cisplatin plus a 24- or 96-hour infusion of paclitaxel in epithelial ovarian cancer: a Gynecologic Oncology Group Study.

Spriggs DR, Brady MF, Vaccarello L, Clarke-Pearson DL, Burger RA, Mannel R, Boggess JF, Lee RB, Hanly M

Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medical Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021, USA. spriggsd@mskcc.org

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to assess if prolonged paclitaxel administration in combination with cisplatin improves overall survival (OS) in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients with suboptimal stage III or IV EOC, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer were randomly allocated to receive six cycles of cisplatin 75 mg/m2 and either paclitaxel 135 mg/m2 during 24 hours (arm 1) or paclitaxel 120 mg/m2 during 96 hours (arm 2). RESULTS: Planned accrual was 324 patients; 293 were enrolled before the study was closed as a result of a scheduled interim futility analysis. There were 13 ineligible patients; thus, 140 patients in each arm were assessable. In arm 1, 80% of patients completed all six cycles compared with 83% of patients in arm 2. Grade 4 granulocytopenia was more common in arm 1 (79% v 54%; P < .001) whereas grade 3 or worse anemia was more severe in arm 2 (6% v 18%; P < .003). The median progression-free survival was 1.03 years for arm 1 versus 1.05 years for arm 2. The median OS was 2.49 and 2.54 years for arms 1 and 2, respectively. There have been 237 reported deaths. The relative death rate was approximately 12% greater in arm 2 (hazard ratio, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.860 to 1.45). CONCLUSION: Patients with advanced EOC have a relatively poor prognosis. The results of treatment with cisplatin and paclitaxel are not significantly improved by prolonging the paclitaxel infusion from 24 to 96 hours.

Published 1 October 2007 in J Clin Oncol, 25(28): 4466-71.
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