Cisplatin as second-line therapy in ovarian carcinoma treated initially with single-agent paclitaxel: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study

OBJECTIVES: The platinum compounds are the most active agents in the treatment of ovarian carcinoma. Phase II trials demonstrated the activity of paclitaxel in patients with disease clinically resistant to platinum-based front-line therapy, and phase III studies confirmed that a combination of paclitaxel plus a platinum was superior to cyclophosphamide plus a platinum. This study evaluated the activity of platinum in patients with bulky advanced disease treated with single-agent paclitaxel as front-line therapy on a Gynecologic Oncology Group protocol. Those patients who had persistent (stable) or progressive disease while receiving paclitaxel, or a recurrence of disease within 6 months of completing six cycles of paclitaxel therapy, received single-agent cisplatin. METHODS: Thirty-nine eligible patients with ovarian carcinoma persistent, progressive, or recurrent after initial treatment with paclitaxel 200 mg/m(2) over 24 h every 3 weeks received cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: Among 37 patients evaluable for response, 8 complete (22%) and 13 partial (35%) responses resulted. Twelve (32%) patients exhibited stable disease, while 4 (11%) had increasing disease. Median progression-free survival was 11.0 months. Median survival was 15.0 months. All but two patients were clinically resistant to paclitaxel (progression during or within 6 months after completion of paclitaxel). Grade 2 or worse adverse effects among 39 patients evaluable for toxicity included neutropenia (23), thrombocytopenia (3), anemia (10), nausea and vomiting (23), azotemia (7), neurotoxicity (9), fever (2), and tinnitus (1). CONCLUSION: These data provide evidence that cisplatin is active as second-line therapy in patients clinically resistant to paclitaxel. The overall response rate is high (57%) with excellent progression-free and overall survival in the second-line setting.