The feasibility of carboplatin-based intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer

Objective

To reduce toxicities in cisplatin-based intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy, we substituted carboplatin for cisplatin. The purpose of this study was to provide preliminary toxicity data of carboplatin-based IP chemotherapy and to evaluate the feasibility of this chemotherapy regimen in patients with ovarian cancer after primary debulking surgery.

Study design

The toxicity data of 19 primary ovarian cancer patients (IP group) who underwent carboplatin-based IP and intravenous (IV) combination chemotherapy (IP carboplatin AUC 5 on day 1, IV paclitaxel 175 mg/m² on day 2, and IP paclitaxel 60 mg/m² on day 8) after primary debulking surgery were retrospectively analyzed and compared to 34 patients (IV group) who were treated with standard platinum-based IV chemotherapy during the same period.

Results

The toxicity data in a total of 118 cycles were analyzed. Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia, neutropenia, and pain were more common in the IP group than the IV group. There were seven catheter-related complications. Fourteen patients (73.7%) were able to complete six cycles or more of IP chemotherapy. Survival results in the IP group were compared with those from the IV group; a prolonged progression-free survival was observed (26.6 vs. 20.7 months; p = 0.038). Compared to the previous results with cisplatin-based IP chemotherapy, there was no significant difference in hematologic events. However, gastrointestinal, neurologic, and metabolic events in this study were definitely lower compared to those of cisplatin-based IP chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Carboplatin-based IP and IV combination chemotherapy is feasible in patients with ovarian carcinoma after primary debulking surgery.