Ifosfamide and paclitaxel salvage chemotherapy for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of ifosfamide (1.5 g/m2 i.v. on days 1, 2, 3) and paclitaxel (135 mg/m2 i.v. over 3 hours on day 3) with G-CSF (5 μg/kg/d subcutaneously, days 7-11) administered every 3 weeks on an outpatient basis in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer previously treated with platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients and methods: Thirty-five consecutive patients were treated, 12 of whom had previously received two regimens. Twelve of the 35 were defined as platinum-resistant and 23 as potentially platinum-sensitive. Results: Fifteen patients (43%; 95% CI: 26%-61%) achieved objective responses, five of them complete and ten partial. Objective responses occurred in 17% of the platinum-resistant patients and in 57% of those with potentially platinum-sensitive disease. The median duration of response was seven months and the median overall survival 11 months. The treatment was well tolerated and only 15% of the patients developed grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. With the exception of alopecia there were no other grade 3 or 4 toxicities. Conclusions: The combination of ifosfamide and paclitaxel was well tolerated and showed activity in patients with ovarian cancer who had previously undergone platinum-based chemotherapy.