A feasibility study of carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel combination chemotherapy in endometrial cancer: a Kansai Clinical Oncology Group study (KCOG0015 trial)

Objectives.

The optimal chemotherapy regimen for women with endometrial cancer has not been established. We assessed the feasibility, toxicity and clinical efficacy of combination triweekly carboplatin and weekly paclitaxel in women with endometrial cancer.

Methods.

Eligible patients had histologically confirmed primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer (Group A), or had localized high-risk features (Group B). All were treated with paclitaxel 80 mg/m² (days 1, 8 and 15) and carboplatin AUC 5 (day 1) each 21-day cycle. A minimum of 3 cycles was planned; if 75% or more of patients were able to receive at least 3 cycles with acceptable toxicity, the regimen was declared “feasible.”

Results.

Forty patients were enrolled and administered 163 cycles of therapy; 38 (95%) were chemo-naive. No patients received radiation previously. Group A (measurable disease) contained 15 patients (5 with recurrent disease, 7 receiving neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, and 3 treated adjuvantly following suboptimal cytoreduction). Group B (non-measurable disease) contained 25 patients (primary stage I:10, II:5, III:8, IV:1 and relapse 1). Hematological toxicities(G3/G4) were neutropenia (31%/33%) and thrombocytopenia (6%/0%). Reversible G3 hypersensitivity (5%) and G2 cardiotoxicity (3%) was uncommon. Thirty-one patients (78%) completed ≥ 3 cycles (median 4, range: 1-9). Thirteen of 15 (87%) measurable patients responded (3CR, 10PR). Eighty-seven percent of measurable patients were not progressive at 6 months. In Group A, QOL scores were significantly improved after 3 cycles of chemotherapy (p = 0.037), and at the completion of chemotherapy (p = 0.045). QOL scores in Group B did not change during therapy.

Conclusions.

This combination chemotherapy is feasible and effective for endometrial cancer patients.