Sustained platelet-sparing effect of weekly low dose paclitaxel allows effective, tolerable delivery of extended dose dense weekly carboplatin in platinum resistant/refractory epithelial ovarian cancer
2011

Low Dose Paclitaxel and Carboplatin for Ovarian Cancer

Sample size: 7 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Rohini Sharma, Janet Graham, Sarah Blagden, Hani Gabra

Primary Institution: Imperial College, London, UK

Hypothesis

The platelet sparing effect of paclitaxel occurs at doses lower than that required for response.

Conclusion

The addition of low dose paclitaxel allows delivery of weekly dose dense carboplatin AUC 3 by maintaining platelet counts without compromising dose dense carboplatin mediated tumour response.

Supporting Evidence

  • The study demonstrated that low dose paclitaxel does not worsen neuropathic symptoms.
  • Patients maintained platelet counts while receiving dose dense carboplatin.
  • The regimen was well tolerated and effective in a poor prognostic group.

Takeaway

This study shows that giving a small amount of paclitaxel can help patients with ovarian cancer get more effective treatment without causing low platelet counts.

Methodology

Seven patients with platinum resistant ovarian cancer were treated with carboplatin AUC 3 and low dose paclitaxel 20 mg/m2.

Limitations

The study has a small sample size with only seven patients.

Participant Demographics

All participants had platinum resistant epithelial ovarian cancer and grade ≥ 2 neuropathic symptoms.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2407-11-289

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