RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Consolidation therapy revisited: intravenous chemotherapy
JF International Journal of Gynecologic Cancer
JO Int J Gynecol Cancer
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 204
OP 207
DO 10.1136/ijgc-00009577-200311001-00013
VO 13
IS Suppl 2
A1 M. Markman
YR 2003
UL http://ijgc.bmj.com/content/13/Suppl_2/204.abstract
AB The administration of ‘consolidation’ therapy is designed to maximize the benefits achieved from primary chemotherapy, to both improve progression-free and overall survival. Paclitaxel is an excellent agent to consider for a consolidation strategy in ovarian cancer, based on its activity in the disease, its cycle-specificity, and the lack of serious cumulative toxicity (except for neuropathy). A recently reported randomized trial conducted by the South-west Oncology Group and the Gynecologic Oncology Group revealed that 12-monthly cycles of single-agent paclitaxel (175 mg/m2 over 3 h) improves progression-free survival (PFS), compared to 3-monthly cycles of the agent (median PFS: 28 months versus 21 months, P = 0.0023, and hazard ratio 2.31). Further exploration of consolidation/maintenance therapy in the management of ovarian cancer is indicated, focusing on agents that are easy to administer (eg, oral) and that result in limited cumulative toxicity.