Weekly single-agent carboplatin in heavily pretreated patients with recurrent ovarian, peritoneal and fallopian tube carcinoma

Purpose of investigation: To report the experience of a single institution in the south of Israel with weekly carboplatin in heavily pretreated patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian, peritoneal and fallopian tube carcinoma.

Methods: The hospital records of ten patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian, peritoneal and fallopian tube carcinoma who had 2nd-line or later chemotherapy with weekly carboplatin between January 2003 and December 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. Weekly carboplatin, at a dose calculated with use of the Hilary Calvert's formula at AUC = 2, was given intravenously in 500 ml dextrose 5% over 30 minutes on day 1 of every seven days. Response was determined using clinical evaluation, radiological reports and CA-125 level. Toxicity was graded using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) criteria.

Results: Overall, 155 courses of weekly carboplatin were given. The median number of courses per patient was 14 (range, 2-37) and median duration of treatment was 22.5 (range, 2-40) weeks. Four patients (40%) had complete response lasting for 8-20 (median, 12) weeks, two (20%) had partial response lasting for five and 14 weeks, respectively, one (10%) had stable disease lasting for 23 weeks and three (30%) had progressive disease. Toxicity was mainly hematological with only grade 1-2 hematological toxicity as follows: anemia--four patients (40%), leukopenia--three (30%), neutropenia--three (30%) and thrombocytopenia--two (20%).

Conclusion: Weekly carboplatin has considerable activity and low and well tolerated toxicity in heavily pretreated patients with platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian, peritoneal and fallopian tube carcinoma.

Ovarian carcinoma; Chemotherapy; Carboplatin; Disease response; Toxicity

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