A phase I/II trial of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in the intensification of cisplatin and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer

A pilot study was undertaken in eight patients to assess the feasibility of recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rH GM-CSF) support to intensify standard chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer using a shortened 15 day treatment interval. Only four patients completed the course of six cycles of cisplatin 75 mg m-2 and cyclophosphamide 750 mg m-2 with rH GM-CSF, 3-5 micrograms kg-1 day-1, days 3-14, but one of these suffered a toxic death on study. Another died of disease progression. There were two episodes of life-threatening infection (WHO grade 4), and three patients were withdrawn because of various rH GM-CSF-related problems. Although potentially affording some patients the hypothetical benefits of dose intensification, as well as the possible attraction of a shorter duration of chemotherapy, this regimen is not without problems.