Chemotherapy of advanced ovarian cancer

Abstract

Combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel plus a platinum compound (carboplatin or cisplatin) is the current regimen of choice for the treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. The two most widely used combinations are paclitaxel (135 mg/m2, 24-hour infusion) plus cisplatin (75 mg/m2) or paclitaxel (175 mg/m2, 3-hour infusion) plus carboplating dosed to an area under curve of 7.5. Randomized trials are in progress comparing these two regimens. Numerous other clinical issues remain regarding how to maximize the effectiveness of this therapy, including dose and schedule, duration of treatment, route of administration, and incorporation of other agents with novel mechanisms of cytotoxicity. New agents currently undergoing evolution as part of novel induction regimens have been shown to have significant activity in recurrent ovarian cancer and include topotecan, gemcitabine, oral etoposide, and encapsulated doxorubicin.