Intraperitoneal Cisplatin and Paclitaxel in Ovarian Cancer

Abstract

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is a common gynaecological malignancy. About two third patients have advanced disease (FIGO stage III-IV) at diagnosis. 1 Initial debulking surgery followed by paclitaxel and platinum based chemotherapy is currently standard treatment approach. 2 Recurrence of disease in abdomen (intraperitoneal) is the main cause of treatment failure 1 . Earlier studies have suggested that intraperitoneal chemotherapy may help in reducing the risk of relapse of EOC. resent randomized study was conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) to evaluate the role of intraperitoneal chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancers. tween March 1998 and Jan 2001, 429 patients of stage III ovarian cancer and primary peritoneal cancers with residual disease <1cm after surgery were enrolled in the study. Patients were randomized to intravenous group (n=215) in which patients received intravenous paclitaxel 135mg/m 2 over a 24 hour period on day1 and intravenous cisplatin 75mg/m 2 on day 2 and intraperitoneal group (n=214) in which they received intravenous paclitaxel 135mg/m 2 over 24 hours on day 1, intraperitoneal cisplatin 100mg/m 2 on day 2 and intraperitoneal paclitaxel 60mg/m 2 on day 8. Eligibility criteria included -stage III epithelial ovarian or peritoneal carcinoma with residual disease =1 cm in diameter after surgery, GOG performance status 0-2, normal blood counts, and adequate renal and hepatic function. Intraperitoneal route was accessed by either using