Paclitaxel and Etoposide in Platinum Refractory Epithelial Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of combined paclitaxel and etoposide in the treatment of platinum-refractory epithelial ovarian cancer.

Subjects Platinum-refractory epithelial ovarian cancer patients between April 1994 December 1996.

Main outcome measure Response rate, duration of response, survival, and drug toxicities.

Results The evaluable patients included 27 cases, achieved the response rate of 33.33% with complete response of 14.8%, median duration of response 5.0 (3-28 months), median survival of responders 16.0 months (95% CI, 1.4-30.6) and 6.5 months (95% CI, 2.7-10.3) for non-responders. More than 55.0% showed anemia and leukopenia grade 3, with 11.0% thrombocytopenia grade 4.

Conclusion Combined low dose paclitaxel and short period etoposide administration for platinum-refractory epithelial ovarian cancer showed similar results of response rate and median duration of response, comparing with previous trial of high dose paclitaxel. The toxicities were manageble.