ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of platinum dose intensity on pathological response rate and overall survival in patients with advanced ovarian adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Between February 1992 and December 1996, 195 previously untreated patients with FIGO stage IIb-c, IIIb-c, or IV with macroscopic residual disease after suboptimal debulking surgery were randomized to receive CCC (100 mg/m(2) of cisplatin, 300 mg/m(2) of cyclophosphamide, 300 mg/m(2) of carboplatin, n = 96) or CC (100 mg/m(2) of cisplatin, 600 mg/m(2) of cyclophosphamide, n = 99) for six courses at 28-day intervals. A second-look laparotomy was planned at the end of chemotherapy. RESULTS: In the CCC arm, the platinum compound received dose intensity and relative total dose were 85 and 76%; in the CC arm, they were 94 and 85%. Grade 3-4 toxicity was more frequent in the CCC arm than in the CC arm for leukopenia (56% vs 26%, P < 0.001), febrile neutropenia (18% vs 4%, P = 0.002), anemia (31% vs 5%, P < 0.001), thrombopenia (55% vs 4%, P < 0.001), and ototoxicity (8% vs 0%, P < 0.001). The pathologic complete response rate was 22 and 14% in the CCC and CC arms, respectively (P = 0.19). With a median follow-up of 53 months, the median time to failure and the 3-year treatment failure-free survival rate were 17.4 months and 22% vs 13 months and 11% in the two arms, respectively (P = 0.01). The median survival time and the 3-year overall survival rate were, respectively, 30 months and 42% vs 25 months and 33% (P < 0.20). CONCLUSION: The platinum dose intensification (1.6-fold increase) obtained with the CCC association improves the treatment failure-free survival without significant impact on overall survival when compared with the CC regimen in suboptimal debulked ovarian adenocarcinoma. However, because of its high rate of hematologic toxicity and ototoxicity, this association cannot be recommended for routine practice.
