Paclitaxel (Taxol) monotherapy in the treatment of progressive and recurrent ovarian carcinoma after platinum-based chemotherapy

This retrospective study evaluates paclitaxel (Taxol) monotherapy in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer, previously treated with cisplatin, Forty-six patients with FIGO stage IC to IV were given Taxol in doses of 175 mg/m(2) and 135 mg/m(2) as a 3-h continuous infusion, All patients were given premedication (prednisone, clemastin, cimetidine) to prevent hypersensitivity reactions, One allergic reaction was observed, Thirty-nine patients showed progress of their disease during treatment and seven showed a response (overall response rate 15.2%; 95% c.i. 4.8-25.6%), There were five total (10.9%) and two partial responses, Among 20 patients who had progressed during or within 6 months of prior cisplatin-based therapy two were responders and two showed partial response (10%), Among 26 patients who had responded to cisplatin but suffered recurrence more than 6 months after cisplatin treatment, there were five total responders (19.2%). We conclude that Taxol treatment does not alter the fact that advanced ovarian carcinoma still carries a grave prognosis, Taxol monotherapy treatment of patients not responding to first line platinum treatment or having relapse within six months of completed therapy, seems to have a limited effect, For those patients responding to the first line platinum treatment that lasts for at least six months the effect of Taxol treatment is more encouraging.