TAXOL - A NEW DRUG WITH SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITY AS A SALVAGE THERAPY IN ADVANCED EPITHELIAL OVARIAN-CARCINOMA

Taxol, a new and novel antimicrotubule agent, has shown clear activity as a salvage therapy in epithelial ovarian carcinoma. More importantly, it is active in tumors that have displayed resistance to platinum compounds. Its role as part of initial therapy in combination with cisplatin in advanced disease is currently being explored but data are too immature for any conclusions. Its major and dose-limiting toxicity is neutropenia which makes it an ideal drug to escalate with cytokines although, to date, no clear dose- response relationship has been identified. Taxol may well be the most important new antineoplastic agent to surface in the past decade as further studies suggest it has broad antitumor activity. Studies conducted over the next several years will more clearly place this drug in its proper role in the treatment of ovarian cancer as well as other tumors in which early trials suggest definite activity. © 1993 Academic Press, Inc.