Five-year results of cyclic semi-high dose neoadjuvant chemotherapy supported by autologous peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation in patients with advanced ovarian cancer

Background To achieve anti-ovarian tumor responses similar to those obtained with high-dose chemotherapy but with milder side effects, we developed a treatment protocol in which semi-high dose multi-cycle neoadjuvant chemotherapy was supported by autologous peripheral blood stem-cell transplantation (auto-PBSCT).Methods Seventeen patients with advanced ovarian cancer were enrolled in this study. Two cycles of semi-high dose neoadjuvant chemotherapy, using carboplatin (AUC, 8.75; average dose, 621mg/m²) and etoposide (average dose, 960mg/m²) were supported by auto-PBSCT and followed by cytoreductive surgery and further chemotherapy. Each patient was followed for at least 5 years.Results This treatment schedule achieved an overall response rate of 70.6% in 17 patients with stage III or stage IV ovarian cancer. The 5-year disease-free survival rate was 52.9% (95% confidence interval, 29.2%–76.6%) and the median survival time was 63 months (95% confidence interval, 16–79 months). Thus, we obtained superior treatment outcomes in these 17 patients in comparison with published conventional protocols.Conclusion Cyclic semi-high dose neoadjuvant chemotherapy supported by auto-PBSCT may be tolerable and favorable for patients with advanced ovarian cancer.