Dose-intensive induction therapy with cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and consolidative abdominal radiation in advanced-stage epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract

Purpose: The primary goal of this trial was to evaluate the clinical activity of a high-dose cisplatin-based induction regimen for women with advanced-stage ovarian cancer. A secondary goal was to assess the use of whole-abdominal radiation as consolidative therapy in the subset of women left with less than 5 mm residual disease after completion of chemotherapy.

Patients and methods: Fifty consecutive patients with newly diagnosed, advanced-stage ovarian cancer received cisplatin 40 mg/m2/d and cyclophosphamide 200 mg/m2/d intravenously (IV) for 5 days, every 4 to 6 weeks. After three to four cycles of chemotherapy, patients who still had residual disease less than 5 mm in greatest diameter at second-look surgery were given whole-abdominal radiotherapy.

Results: The overall response rate in 49 patients assessable for response was 61.3% (24.5% pathologic complete responses [pCRs], 32.7% pathologic partial responses [pPRs], and 4.1% clinical partial responses [cPRs]). Median survival for all patients was 23.4 months, and actuarial 4-year survival was 33.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 21.8% to 48.1%). Multivariate analysis showed stage III and serous histology as independent favorable prognostic factors for survival. Median survival for stage III patients was 36.5 months, with an actuarial 4-year survival of 41.6% (95% CI, 25.5% to 59.6%). Median survival for stage IV patients was 12.0 months, with actuarial 4-year survival of 22.9% (95% CI, 9.5% to 45.5%). The major acute toxicities encountered were myelosuppression and peripheral neuropathy. Patients who received consolidative radiotherapy were at increased risk of developing late-onset enteropathy.

Conclusions: This regimen is active against advanced-stage ovarian cancer, but the associated toxicity is severe. Consolidative whole-abdominal radiation did not appear to prolong survival in the subset of women left with less than 5 mm residual disease after chemotherapy.