J Gynecol Oncol.  2020 Mar;31(2):e23. 10.3802/jgo.2020.31.e23.

Comparison between weekly versus 3-weekly paclitaxel in combination with carboplatin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy in advanced ovarian cancer

• Kim YN
• Lee YJ
• Lee JY
• Nam EJ
• Kim SW
• Kim S
• Kim YT

• KMID: 2470873
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3802/jgo.2020.31.e23

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy and toxicity of dose-dense weekly paclitaxel and 3-weekly carboplatin (ddPC) as neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with the standard 3-weekly regimen.
METHODS
A retrospective study of patients diagnosed with stage IIIc and IV ovarian cancer who received at least one cycle of NAC followed by interval debulking surgery between August 2015 and January 2018 was conducted. Patient characteristics, clinical and pathological response to NAC, surgical and survival outcome, and adverse event were compared.
RESULTS
A total of 23 patients in the ddPC group and 50 patients in the standard group received a median of 3 cycles of NAC. Rate of grade ≥3 neutropenia was significantly higher in the ddPC group than the standard (82.6% vs. 22.0%, p<0.001). Patients in the ddPC group underwent dose-reduction more frequently (34.8% vs. 4.00%, p=0.001). Normalization of cancer antigen-125 post-NAC occurred more frequently in the ddPC group (73.9% vs. 46.0%, p=0.030). No residual disease rate (43.5% vs. 60.0%, p=0.188) and chemotherapy response score of 3 (34.8% vs. 26.0%, p=0.441) were not statistically different between two groups. There was no statistical difference in progression free survival (PFS) at 2 years (36.3% vs. 28.4%, p=0.454). Cox proportional hazard model showed that ddPC was not a significant determinant of PFS (p=0.816).
CONCLUSION
There was no difference between both regimens in terms of NAC response and survival outcomes. However, ddPC group showed higher hematologic toxicity requiring dose reduction.

Keyword

Ovarian Cancer; Chemotherapy; Neoadjuvant Therapy; Treatment Outcome; Toxicity

MeSH Terms

Carboplatin*
Disease-Free Survival
Drug Therapy*
Humans
Neoadjuvant Therapy
Neutropenia
Ovarian Neoplasms*
Paclitaxel*
Proportional Hazards Models
Retrospective Studies
Treatment Outcome
Carboplatin
Paclitaxel