Current status and future directions of platinum/paclitaxel-based chemotherapy of ovarian cancer

Abstract

A randomized trial conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group in women with suboptimal residual advanced ovarian cancer has shown that the combination chemotherapy regimen of cisplatin plus paclitaxel (Taxol; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Princeton, NJ) results in a higher objective response rate, as well as improved progression-free and overall survival, compared with treatment with cisplatin and cyclophosphamide. Future clinical research efforts in this area will likely focus on attempting to optimize the delivery of a platinum agent and paclitaxel, as well as on adding agents with demonstrated activity in this malignancy to the regimen.