Defining response of ovarian carcinoma to initial chemotherapy according to serum CA 125.

PURPOSETo produce definitions based on serial CA 125 levels to measure response of ovarian carcinoma in patients receiving first-line chemotherapy.PATIENTS AND METHODSDefinitions were derived from analysis of 277 patients in North Thames Ovary Trial 3. Patient data were then incorporated into a computer program and tested against 254 patients in North Thames Ovary Trial 4 and 458 patients in Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) protocol 97. For optimum detection of response, three response definitions have been combined into a computer program. The precise definitions use mathematic logic and take account of factors such as intervening samples. Response to a specific treatment has occurred if after two samples there has been a 50% decrease, confirmed by a fourth sample (50% response), or a serial decrease over three samples of greater than 75% (75% response). The final sample has to be at least 28 days after the previous sample.RESULTSSix hundred twenty of 989 patients were considered assessable for response ...