Weekly paclitaxel and cisplatin in recurrent ovarian cancer

: This study was performed to assess the feasibility of weekly paclitaxel (TXL) and cisplatin (CDDP) in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer. Ten of eleven patients experienced recurrence after more than 6 months after first line CDDP-based chemotherapy. TXL and CDDP were given at initial doses of 60 mg/m2 and 30 mg/m2 on days 1, 8, and 15 in 2 patients and an increase in the respective dose level was planned to 60/35 in 5 patients, 70/35 in 2 patients, and 70/40 in 2 patients. Toxicities were well tolerated. None of the patients suffered from neurotoxicity or myalgia of more than grade 2. Gastrointestinal disorder was recognized as grade 1-2, and grade 3-4 hematological toxicity included leucocytopenia (64%), anemia (36%), and thrombocytopenia (9%). We set the recommended dose of TXL at 70 mg/m2 and that of CDDP at 35 mg/m2, considering toxicity and performed planned schedule. Of eleven patients, nine were assessable by computed tomographic scan. The overall response rate was 67% (CR: 1, PR: 5, NC: 1, PD: 2). One of two patients with standard TXL/CDDP therapy showed PR by switching to a weekly schedule. The median follow-up duration was 490 days and the median response duration was 371 days. From the results presented here, it is suggested that this regimen with increased DI might be quite effective and well tolerated in patients who experience relapse after CDDP-based chemotherapy.