Phase II trial of intraperitoneal paclitaxel in carcinoma of the ovary, tube, and peritoneum: a Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the response rate of intraperitoneal (i.p.) paclitaxel in patients with small-volume residual carcinomas of the ovary, fallopian tube, or peritoneum.

Patients and methods: Eligibility criteria included patients with one of the cancers noted above, with the largest residual disease 0.5 cm or less in maximum diameter at the end of second-look surgery, and prior treatment with systemic paclitaxel was permitted. The treatment plan was paclitaxel 60 mg/m2 i.p. weekly for 16 weeks, followed by surgical evaluation in patients without evidence of disease progression.

Results: Of 80 patients entered onto the study, 76 were eligible, of whom 86% were considered to be potentially cisplatin-sensitive. Although five patients (7%) did not complete the first course of therapy because of catheter leakage or blockade, 53 patients (70%) received all 16 planned courses. Only 14 patients (18%) received fewer than 11 courses. Treatment was well tolerated, which included only moderate abdominal pain (grade 2, 12 patients; grade 3, one patient) and minimal neutropenia (grade 2, three patients; grade 3, one patient). Of 28 assessable patients with microscopic disease at the start of i.p. therapy, 17 patients (61%) achieved a surgically defined complete response (CR). Only one of 31 patients (3%) with any macroscopic disease achieved a CR. Of the eligible patients, 18 of 76 (24%) achieved a CR.

Conclusion: Salvage i.p. paclitaxel is tolerable and active in patients with microscopic residual disease. The impact of this treatment strategy on survival remains to be assessed in a phase III trial.