Feasibility study on biweekly paclitaxel treatment as maintenance chemotherapy in advanced müllerian carcinoma.

Abstract

AIM:

To evaluate the feasibility of biweekly paclitaxel treatment as maintenance chemotherapy for patients with advanced müllerian carcinoma.

METHODS:

Thirty patients with stage III or IV ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancers who underwent primary optimal surgery and standard 6 cycles of carboplatin/taxane-based chemotherapy and exhibited a complete clinical response were entered in this study. Paclitaxel 80 mg/m(2) was administered biweekly for 12 cycles. Patients were evaluated monthly for treatment-related toxicity.

RESULTS:

Four patients, including 3 disease progressions and 1 bone marrow suppression, came off the protocol therapy. Twenty-six (86.7%) patients received complete treatment. Although the major toxicity was neutropenia, most of those patients (27/30, 90.0%) did not experience grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. Twenty-four (80.0%) patients showed persistent grade 1 neuropathy and the remaining 6 (20.0%) did not as a result of prior therapy. However, none experienced neuropathy progression during or after the protocol therapy. Most (17/22, 77.3%) of the completely treated patients experienced a regression of symptoms during and after therapy.

CONCLUSION:

Biweekly paclitaxel therapy is well tolerated by patients with advanced müllerian carcinoma and is therefore acceptable as a candidate for maintenance chemotherapy in these patients.

• Authors: Yukihisa Minagawa, Muneaki Shimada, Hiroaki Itamochi, Shinya Sato, Seiya Sato, Makoto Okada, Fuminori Kitada, Junzo Kigawa
• Journal: Gynecologic and obstetric investigation (Gynecol Obstet Invest) Vol. 73 Issue 4 Pg. 272-6 ( 2012) ISSN: 1423-002X [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 22378216 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
• Paclitaxel

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (drug therapy)
• Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell (drug therapy)
• Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous (drug therapy)
• Adult
• Aged
• Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic (administration & dosage)
• Carcinoma, Endometrioid (drug therapy)
• Fallopian Tube Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Feasibility Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Maintenance Chemotherapy
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Staging
• Ovarian Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Paclitaxel (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Peritoneal Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Treatment Outcome