Cycles of Dose-Intensive Chemotherapy with Peripheral Stem Cell Support in Persistent or Recurrent Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer

Objective.The objective was to determine the toxicity and surgically documented response rate of sequential high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral stem cell support in patients with persistent or recurrent cisplatin-sensitive ovarian cancer. Methods.Fourteen patients (average age, 45 years) were treated with cyclophosphamide (4.5 g/m 2), followed by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-stimulated peripheral stem cell harvests. The subsequent regimen prescribed three courses of carboplatin (1 g/m 2) and cyclophosphamide (1.5 g/m 2with 2-mercaptoethanesulfonate) every 2 weeks with stem cell support. This was followed by three courses of paclitaxel at 250 mg/m 2every 2 weeks with G-CSF support only. Six patients were entered on the basis of a positive second-look laparotomy and 8 patients had a first recurrence after at least a 6-month disease-free interval. Results.Fourteen patients were entered and 12 patients completed all planned courses of therapy (mean time, 13 weeks). Normal hematopoiesis was reestablished after each cycle. Hospitalization for neutropenic fever occurred in 11/93 cycles (11.8%). Thirteen patients required blood transfusions and in 12 patients platelet transfusions were given. One patient had grade 3 neurotoxicity. An initial elevated CA 125 returned to normal in 7/8 patients (88%) and 71% of patients with measurable disease responded to therapy. There were 2 pathologic complete responders (PCR), making the PCR rate 2/14 or 14% (0–35%). Conclusion.Although this regimen was well tolerated and clinical response rates were high, the surgically documented response rate was not clearly superior to conventional salvage regimens in platinum-sensitive patients.