Phase II study of carboplatin in patients with ovarian carcinoma: a national cancer institute of Canada clinical trials group study

The National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group conducted a phase II study of carboplatin (400 mg/m2) given as an iv bolus every 4 weeks in patients with measurable advanced ovarian cancer who had failed or relapsed following standard platinum-containing therapy. Four complete and eight partial responses were seen in 43 evaluable patients. Toxicity was primarily hematologic. Myelosuppression, particularly thrombocytopenia, was severe in one-third of patients treated at the 400-mg/m2 starting dose. Carboplatin has antitumor activity in this clinical setting, but a lower starting dose is recommended.