Prospective treatment of advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma with cisplatin, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide

Both single-agent cisplatin and the combination of doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide demonstrated moderate activity against endometrial carcinoma in earlier salvage trials. Since January 1979, 102 patients with advanced primary (n = 42) or recurrent (n = 60) endometrial carcinoma were prospectively treated with cisplatin (50 mg/m²), doxorubicin (50 mg/m²), and cyclophos-phamide (500 mg/m²) (PAC). PAC was administered monthly until disease progression or toxicity precluded additional therapy. Patients received a median of five treatment cycles (range 1–13). Of the 87 patients with measurable disease, 12 had a complete clinical response, while 27 had a partial clinical response, for an overall objective response rate of 45%. No differences in response rates between primary and recurrent disease patients were noted. Median time to response was 2.5 months with a median response duration of 4.8 months. Nonresponders included 33 patients with stable disease and 15 with progression. Median progression-free survival for all patients was 6 months. Dose escalation was possible in 25% of patients; however, 52% of patients required dose reductions during treatment. Clinically significant toxicities included neutropenia (65%), anemia (47%), emesis (21%), nephrotoxicity (17%), and neurotoxicity (4%). Our study indicates that endometrial cancer is significantly responsive to PAC. Enthusiasm for this regimen should be tempered by the limited duration of response and substantial treatment toxicity.