ABSTRACT
Patients with advanced ovarian epithelial cancer were randomized for additional oral megestrol acetate 160 mg/day for 3 weeks and repeated simultaneously every cycle of the three cis-platinum combination regimens. Fifteen patients of AP and 18 cases of AP plus megestrol acetate showed a higher incidence of weight gain 26.66% versus 94.44% (P<0.05), lower incidence of nausea-vomiting 73.33% versus 22.22% (P<0.05), increase of appetite and sense of well being 26.66% versus 77.77% (P<0.05), and incidence of good performance 53.33% versus 66.66% (P>0.05). Fifteen cases of EP and 17 cases of EP plus megestrol acetate achieved a higher incidence of weight gain 20.00% versus 88.23% (P<0.05), incidence of nausea-vomiting 73.33% versus 41.17% (P>0.05), better incidence of good appetite and sense of well being 20.00% versus 70.58% (P<0.05), and incidence of good performance 26.66% versus 64.70% (P>0.05). Nineteen cases of CAP and 15 cases of CAP plus megestrol acetate achieved a higher incidence of weight gain 31.57% versus 86.66% (P<0.05), lower incidence of nausea-vomiting 89.47% versus 40.00% (P>0.05), incidence of good appetite and sense of well being 47.36% versus 80.00% (P>0.05), and incidence of good performance 57.89% versus 66.66% (P>0.05). The response rate of disease to the additional megestrol acetate of the three regimens showed no significant change.