1ST LINE CHEMOTHERAPY WITH HIGH-DOSE CARBOPLATIN IN ADVANCED OVARIAN CARCINOMAS

Thirty female patients with ovarian cancer of poor prognosis were included in a chemotherapy trial using high dose IV carboplatin - 800 mg/m2 every 5 weeks. The subjects had three to six cycles prior to second laparotomy. Twenty-eight patients were assessable. There was no neurological, auditory or renal toxicity. Limiting toxicity was haematological, the mean neutrophil count was less than 650 mm3 and the mean platelet count less than 30 000/mm3. No death occurred from toxicity. The clinical response rate was 67%, and the surgical response rate 53.5%, with 15% complete histological responses. Survival at 18 months is 36%. A trial concerning 36 patients treated with an association of carboplatin at the same dose combined with cyclophosphamide has just been completed and the results are being analyzed.