Results of docetaxel therapy in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer

Successful treatment of relapsed ovarian cancer has not been solved. Docetaxel, being one of the medicines of special interest in Hungary from 2002, has been ranked with the other well known treatment forms. In this study the authors evaluated the results of the docetaxel-carboplatin combination treatment in two oncological centers. Sixteen patients with relapsed ovarian cancer, premedicated with steroids, were given docetaxel-carboplatin chemotherapy at a dose of 75 mg/m2 and AUC 5 in 94 courses at the Gynecological Dept., National Institute of Oncology and Oncotherapeutic Clinic of Szeged University. Median of courses was 6 (range: 2 to 15). CR was found in 1, PR in 4 and PD in 5 patients. Six patients showed stable disease. There was no need for dose reduction. The authors observed no extreme side effects (this evaluation does not contain the data of a patient who refused chemotherapy because of the development of hypersensitivity reaction). Almost all patients developed reversible alopecia. The probability of freedom from progression dropped to 50% 5 months after the beginning of treatment. Docetaxel has expanded the chemotherapeutic arsenal in relapsed ovarian cancer. Our results are in harmony with those reported in the literature on other drugs or combination treatments. Further trials are required to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy.