Single-agent paclitaxel inpatients withpreviously untreated stageIVepithelial ovariancancer

SummaryTheaimofthis study wastoevaluate theefficacy ofhigh-dose paclitaxel inpatients with previously untreated stage IVepithelial ovarian cancer. Paclitaxel wasadministered intravenously over3hatadoseof225mgm-2ona21-day cycle forsixcourses. Thirty-six patients wereentered into this study; all 36wereassessed fortoxicity and33patients wereevaluable forresponse. Onepatient hada complete response and12patients hadpartial responses (overall response rate39.4%, 95%Cl23-58%). Theoverall median duration of response was9months(range 3.5-23+ months). Theresponse rate tocarboplatin following failure ofpaclitaxel within 1yearofstopping therapy was57%(four outofsevenpatients). Themediansurvival ofpatients was17.2months. Themaintoxicity encountered was neutropenia which wasWHO grade3in11patients (31%)andWHO grade 4insevenpatients (19%). Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (GCSF) wasnotgiven toanypatient during thestudy. Other toxicities were:grade 3/4infection (11%) andnauseaandvomiting (11%); grade 3bonepain (22%), fatigue (14%), diarrhoea (3%), myalgia/arthralgia (3%)anddryeyes(3%). Transient peripheral neuropathy occurred in16 patients (44%), andalopecia wasencountered inmostpatients (grade 2/3, 78%). Paclitaxel given at225mgm-2topatients with stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer isactive, well tolerated anddoesnotrequire GCSFsupport.