The objective of this study was to provide preliminary toxicity data of multiple-cycle
combination chemotherapy with intraperitoneal (IP)
carboplatin and intravenous (IV)
paclitaxel for further clinical trials. The toxicity data of 42 patients with mullerian
carcinoma who underwent IP
carboplatin therapy in combination with IV
paclitaxel were retrospectively analyzed.
Chemotherapy was repeated through the Bard IP port placed at initial surgery using IV
paclitaxel at 175 mg/m2 followed by IP
carboplatin. The doses of
carboplatin were either at area under the curve (AUC) = 5, 6, 6.5, 7, or 7.5. The toxicity data in a total of 237 cycles were analyzed. The median number of cycles for IP
chemotherapy was 6 (range: 3-12). The incidences of maximal grade toxicities in all cycles were: grade (G)2/3
nausea/
vomiting, 23.8%; G2/3
constipation, 42.9%; G2
abdominal pain, 28.6%; G2/3 sensory neuropathy, 14.3%; motor neuropathy, 4.8%;
myalgia/
arthralgia 33.4%; G3/4 neutrocytopenia, 85.4%; and G3/4
anemia, 35.4%. These were not related to the dose of
carboplatin. The incidences of G3
thrombocytopenia in relation to the dose of
carboplatin were AUC = 5, 0%; 6, 31.6%; 6.5, 44.4%; 7, 25.0%; and 7.5, 80%. G4
thrombocytopenia did not occur. A dose of
carboplatin between AUC = 6 and 7 with IV
paclitaxel at 175 mg/m2 is warranted for further evaluation.