Multicentre phase II study of oxaliplatin as a single-agent in cisplatin/carboplatin ± taxane-pretreated ovarian cancer patients

Background: This multicentre phase II open-label study evaluated safety and antitumour activity of oxaliplatin in cisplatin or carboplatin (cis/carboplatin) ± taxane-pretreated advanced ovarian cancer (AOC) patients. Patients and methods: Forty-eight patients received oxaliplatin 130 mg/m 2 intravenously every 3 weeks, 94% having a performance status (PS) 0–1. All were pretreated with cis/carboplatin and 21 (44%) with paclitaxel. The median number of involved organs was two, 18 (38%) had liver metastasis, 23 (48%) were platinum-resistant and 14 (29%) were taxane-resistant. Forty-two patients were evaluable for a response, 18 (43%) were platinum-resistant and 11 (26%) were taxane-resistant. Results: A total of 253 cycles was administered (median: 5.5/patient). Median cumulative oxaliplatin dose was 666 mg/m 2 . National Cancer Institute–Common Toxicity Criteria toxicity analysis showed that seven patients (15%) had grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia, two patients (4%) had grade 3 neutropenia, and one patient had grade 3 anaemia. Eleven patients (23%) experienced grade 3 neurosensory toxicity. Of the 29 patients with peripheral neuropathy at the end of treatment, 55% had recovered or improved 1 month later. Eleven objective responses (two complete) were obtained in the 42 evaluable patients [ORR 26%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 14% to 42%], with 10/24 (42%, 95% CI 22% to 63%) in platinum-sensitive, and 1 of 18 (5.6%, 95% CI 0% to 27%) in platinum-resistant patients. Median response duration was 9.2 months (95% CI 6.6% to 11.8%), and median progression-free and overall survival in all treated patients were 4.3 months (95% CI 3.0% to 5.7%) and 15.0 months (95% CI 11.1% to 18.8%), respectively. Conclusion: Oxaliplatin has a good safety profile and is active in cis/carboplatin ± paclitaxel-pretreated AOC patients.