Favorable results of paclitaxel (Taxol) in patients with ovary carcinoma pretreated with platinum
Hoekman, K.; Huijskes, R.V.; Burger, C.W.; Verheijen, R.H.; Pinedo, H.M.; Vermorken, J.B.
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde 139(6): 272-278
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0028-2162 PMID: 7862216 Document Number: 449148
To assess the anti-tumour and side effects of paclitaxel in patients with ovarian carcinoma, after prior treatment with al least one platinum-containing chemotherapy regimen. Phase II study. Academic Hospital of the Free University, Amsterdam. Fourteen of 55 patients with progressive ovarian carcinoma were treated with 135 mg/m2 and 41 with 175 mg/m2 paclitaxel. 9 patients by 24-hour and 46 by 3-hour intravenous infusion. In 9/55 (16%) patients an objective tumour response was obtained, which was complete in 1 patient. In 19/55 (35%) patients the disease stabilised. The serum CA 125 level was increased in 52 patients. In 33% of the patients the course of the serum CA 125 was an indication of the tumour response. The median duration of response was 8 months (range 4.1-13.1) and the median duration of survival was 11.3 months (range 0.3-28.2). Side effects of paclitaxel treatment were hair-loss, arthralgia and myalgia and neutropenia of short duration. In 76% of patients pre-existing neurosensory symptoms increased mildly or developed de novo. The neurotoxic effect appeared reversible in most instances after discontinuation of the paclitaxel treatment. In this rather unfavourable patient population, paclitaxel induced only 16% objective response. However, more than 50% of the patients did benefit from paclitaxel treatment, as a much larger group had long lasting disease stabilisation without symptoms or had reduction of symptoms. The treatment was well tolerated by most patients.