Methotrexate (NSC-740) with citrovorum factor (NSC-3590) rescue, alone and in combination with cyclophosphamide (NSC-26271), in ovarian cancer

Abstract

In a randomized study, 35 patients with advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancers with progressive disease after prior single alkylating agent or combination-agent chemotherapy were treated with either intermediate high-dose methotrexate-citrovorum factor rescue alone or methotrexate-citrovorum factor rescue plus cyclophosphamide. Objective responses to both "second-line" chemotherapeutic regimens were observed. The objective response rate of 43% observed with the methotrexate-citrovorum factor plus cyclophosphamide treatment was superior to that achieved with methotrexate-citrovorum factor given alone. This combination of agents is the most effective second-line chemotherapeutic regimen for ovarian cancer that we have yet tested and we are therefore optimistic about its possibilities as first-line therapy. After early dosage modifications, serious toxic side effects were rare in this group of patients who had had extensive prior therapy.