Study of Carboplatin and Etoposide for Ovarian Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): E.F. McClay, R. Goel, P. Andrews, S. Gorelick, S. Kirmani, S. Kim, P. Braly, S. Plaxe, S. Hoff, J. Alcaraz, S.B. Howell
Primary Institution: University of California, San Diego
Hypothesis
Can carboplatin be substituted for cisplatin in a combination therapy with etoposide administered intraperitoneally?
Conclusion
A pharmacologic advantage exists for both carboplatin and etoposide when administered together via the intraperitoneal route.
Supporting Evidence
- The maximum tolerated dose for high risk patients was 200 mg/m2 of carboplatin and 50 mg/m2 of etoposide.
- The overall response rate in ovarian cancer was 27%.
- Neutropenia was the dose limiting toxicity for both high and low risk groups.
- Pharmacokinetic studies showed a significant pharmacologic advantage for both drugs when administered intraperitoneally.
Takeaway
Doctors tested a new way to give cancer medicine directly into the belly, and it worked better for some patients with ovarian cancer.
Methodology
Patients received a fixed dose of carboplatin and escalating doses of etoposide via the intraperitoneal route, with pharmacokinetic studies performed at the maximum tolerated dose.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small number of patients and the specific eligibility criteria.
Limitations
The study was limited by the small sample size and the focus on specific patient demographics.
Participant Demographics
The median age of participants was 59, with a range from 26 to 83; 21 were female and 5 were male.
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