Weekly vs. Every-3-Week Paclitaxel and Carboplatin for Ovarian Cancer

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 374; no. 8; pp. 738 - 748
• Main Authors: Chan, John K, Brady, Mark F, Penson, Richard T, Huang, Helen, Birrer, Michael J, Walker, Joan L, DiSilvestro, Paul A, Rubin, Stephen C, Martin, Lainie P, Davidson, Susan A, Huh, Warner K, O’Malley, David M, Boente, Matthew P, Michael, Helen, Monk, Bradley J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Massachusetts Medical Society 25-02-2016
• Subjects: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - administration & dosage; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - adverse effects; Bevacizumab; Bevacizumab - administration & dosage; Carboplatin; Carboplatin - administration & dosage; Chemotherapy; Clinical outcomes; Disease-Free Survival; Drug Administration Schedule; Drug delivery; Drug dosages; Female; Humans; Infusions, Intravenous; Intention to Treat Analysis; Middle Aged; Monoclonal antibodies; Motivation; Neuropathy; Neutropenia; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian Neoplasms - drug therapy; Paclitaxel; Paclitaxel - administration & dosage; Patients; Survival; Targeted cancer therapy; United States > US; California
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1505067

The dose-dense delivery of chemotherapy (greater frequency of drug delivery) was explored in women with advanced ovarian cancer. All patients received carboplatin; half received paclitaxel weekly and half every 3 weeks. There were no between-group differences in progression-free survival.
Ovarian cancer, the most lethal gynecologic cancer, is responsible for approximately 14,000 deaths in the United States annually.
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The incorporation of bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor, in the treatment regimen prolongs progression-free survival but not overall survival.
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A dose-dense regimen of paclitaxel involving greater frequency of drug delivery may enhance its antineoplastic effect by eliciting antiangiogenic and proapoptotic properties.
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Weekly paclitaxel therapy prolonged survival among patients with early-stage breast cancer and those with metastatic breast cancer.
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In a study involving patients with ovarian cancer, Japanese investigators found that dose-dense weekly paclitaxel prolonged progression-free . . .